








<^9^ 



FROM 

AMERICAN HISTORY; 

CONTAINING THE 

PRINCIPAL FACTS 

IN THE LIFK OF 

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS. 

FOR THE USE OF YOUNG PERSONS. 



AUTIIOK or AMERICAN POPULAR LESSONS. 

The man I speak of cannot in the world 
Be singly counterpoised. — Shakspjare, 



PUBLISHED BY WILLIAM BURGESS, 

JUVENILE EMPORIUM. 
97 FULTON STREET. 

c 

1829, 

Lx6 



IV PREFACE. 

and I hope, even by this small effort, to bear my 
part in forming the intellectual and moral taste, 
which, in its maturity, may enjoy with ample grati- 
fication, the sublime character, and extraordinary 
adventures of Columbus, celebrated by the beau- 
tiflil genius and eloquent pen of Irving. 

The Authob. 



CONTEmfTS^ 



CHAPTER I, 



The ancient world — Navigation and com- 
merce of the Phoenicians, Egyptians, 
Greeks and Romans.— Constantinople 
and Venice. 



Pag^ 



CHAPTER n. 

The middle ages — Popery — Printing- 
Revival of Learning— The Magnet- 
Heraldry.— Armorial bearings — Prince 
Henry of Portugal— Discoveries of the 
Portuguese. . . . . . jg 

CHAPTER HI. 

Christopher Columbus — His industry, piety 
and desire of knowledge — Rights of men 
better understood in modern than in 
ancient times.— Columbus lays plans for 
discoveries before John H. of Portugal. 22 

CHAPTER IV. 

Columbus at the convent of La Rabidad— 
Isabella queen of Spain— Columbus at 



Yl CONTENTS. 



Page 



the court of Spain — Council of leafned 
men meet at Salamanca to discuss the 
project of Columbus — The Moors sur- 
render the city of Grenada — Columbus 
appointed admiral and viceroy. . 28 

CHAPTER V. 

Columbus sails from Palos— touches at 

the Canaries — discovers St. Salvador. 36 

CHAPTER VI. 

The Bahama Islands — The landing of 
Columbus — The natives of the Island 
— their persons and arms — food and 
ornaments — Islands of Fernandina and 
Isabella. 43 

CHAPTER VII. 

Cuba — Indian Villages — Hayti, or Hispa- 
niola discovered — Indian Woman — The 
natives generous and amiable. , 52 

CHAPTER VIII. 

The cacique Guacanagari — The Caribs — 
One of the ships, the Pinta, deserts the 
squadron of Columbus — Fortress of La 
Navidad — Columbus returns to Europe. 61 

CHAPTER IX. 

Reception of Columbus— In Portugal — 
At the court of Spain — Public rejoicings 



CONTENTS. Vll 

Page 
—Duplicity of Martin Alonzo Pinzon — 
His death. . . , , . 77 

CHAPTER X. 

The king and queen of Spain encourage 
Columbus to undertake a second voyage 
— He sails from the Bay of Cadiz — Dis- 
covers the Caribbees and Porto Rico — 
Arrives at Hispaniola — Finds the garri- 
son of La Navidad destroyed — The In- 
dian chief Caonabo. . , . 92 

CHAPTER XI. 

Columbus lays the foundation of the city 
of Isabella— The Royal Vega— The Is- 
land in part explored — Mountains of 
Cibao — Fables of the Indians — Their 
songs and dances — Fort St. Thomas 
erected — Jamaica discovered — Interest- 
ing young Indian — Cojumbus goes to 
Cuba— Venerable old man meets the 
Spaniards and admonishes them — Na- 
tural Religion. . . . . lOYj 

CHAPTER Xn. 

Columbus circumnavigates Jamaica — 
Cacique and his family — Columbus ar- 
rives at Isabella — meets his brother Bar- 
tholomew — Five domains of Hispaniola 
— Misconduct and discontent of the 
Spaniards — Adventures of Ojeda — The 
chief Caonabo made prisoner. . 137 



VIU CO^JTENT^. 



CHAPTER XIII. 



Pagi 



Indians treated with cruelty by the Spani- 
ards — Their sufferings — Death of Gua- 
canagari. . . . . .153 

CHAPTER XIV, 

Enemies of Columbus complain to the 
king and queen of Spain of his adminis- 
tration — Aguado appointed to inquire 
into the affairs of the colony at Hispa- 
niola — Mines of gold discovered — Co- 
lumbus embarks for Spain, March, 1 496 
— Entrusts the government of the colony 
to his brother Bartholomew — Columbus 
received with indifference in Spain — ■ 
Furnished with six ships for a new enter- 
prise — Discovers the Island of Trinidad, 
and Margarita, and the coast of Paria. 158 

CHAPTER XV. 

City of St. Domingo — Province of Xana- 
gua and its chief, Behechio — Female 
cacique, Anacaona— Guarionex, cacique 
of the Vega — The Adelantado takes tri- 
bute from Behechio — Revolt of Roldan. 1 70 

CHAPTER XVI. 

Roldan refuses to submit to the Adelantado 
' — The Indians take part in the insur- 
rection — Don Bartholomew marches 
against them into the province of 



CONTENTS. IX 

Pagi> 
Cigiiay — The caciques, Magobanex 
and Guarionex taken — Roldan in tire 
province of Xaragua — Columbus makes 
peace with Roldan — Ojeda appears in 
Hispaniola, and heads a party of rebels 
— Roldan, at the command of Colum- 
bus, crushes this Rebellion — Guevara — 
Insurgent attempt of Adrian de Moxico, 
— Salutary severity of Columbus. . 181 

CHAPTER XVII. 

Misrepresentations of the adminstration 
of Columbus by his enemies in Spain 
— Bobadilla appointed to supersede Co- 
lumbus — His unworthy treatment of Co- 
lumbus — Columbus sent in chains to 
Spain — Columbus arrives at Cadiz — 
Queen Isabella commands him to ap- 
pear at court — She receives him gra- 
ciously — Ovando succeeds Bobadilla as 
governor of the Spanish colonies. . 196 

CHAPTER XVm. 

Columbus engages in his fourth and last 
voyage — Arrives off St. Domingo — 
Ovando refuses to allow him to enter 
the harbour — Bobadilla, Roldan, and 
the chief Guarionex are lost at sea — 
Columbus discovers the coast of Hon- 
duras — Cape Gracias a Dios, &c. — 
The rivers Veragua and Belen — Com- 
mences a settlement. . . , ^00 



CONTENTS. 



Page 



in the vicinity — The Indians conspire 
against the Spaniards — The Spaniards 
seize the family of the cacique Quibia — 
The Indians attack the Spaniards at the 
settlement— They kill Diego Tristan. 206 

CHAPTER ;CIX. 

Columbus takes off the Spaniards fi-om the 
settlement, and sails from the coast of 
Veragua — He arrives at the coast of 
Jamaica, forced to remain there — Sends 
to Hispaniola — Rebellion of the bro- 
thers Porras — Stratagem of Columbus 
to procure supplies from the Indians. 222 

CHAPTER XX. 

Adventures of Diego Mendez — The Ade- 
lantado defeats Porras — Columbus and 
his men taken off the vi^recks-— Arrive / 
at St. Domingo — Return to Spain — Ad- 
ministration of Ovando — Fate of Ana- 
caona — The king of Spain disregards 
the claims of Columbus — Death of Isa- 
bella — Her character — Columbus dies 
' — Brief character of Columbus — Diego 
Columbus — Fernan. Columbus — Ame- 
rigo Vespucci 235 



BEI>ICAT10x\, 

TO 

EDWARD LYMAN, JAMES HOWE, 

AND 

JOHN REVERE. 

Because I love you, and am interested in your 
improvement, I have written this book ; but 
though it was written more especially for your in- 
struction and entertainment, if it can be useful to 
you, it may be useful to other children. When I 
was no older than you are, your grandmother used 
to relate to me the histories of Mary, Queen of 
Scots ; of her grandson Charles I. King of En- 
gland ; and his unfortunate minister, Wentworth, 
Earl of Stafford. I took infinite pleasure in hsten- 
ing to these pathetic narratives, and I learned from 
them what I hope I have never forgotten — venera- 
tion for those who suffer in any calamity with pa- 
tience and dignity ; and compassion for the afflicted, 
whoever they are, whether they are of the highest 
or lowest station in the world. — I wish I may be 
able to inform your minds with the same skill, and 
with greater effect. 

Antoninus Marcus, one of the wisest and best of 
Roman Emperors, recorded in writing the names 
of persons who had taught him any just sentiment, 



XU DEDICATION. 

or good rule of conduct, or who had beiieiited 
him by good examples. His grateful regard for 
the benefactors of his mind, is one of the most 
beautiful and edifying traits of his character, and 
is truly worthy of imitation by the young of all pos- 
terity. To leave such honourable and affecting 
recollections in the minds of young persons, is all 
I wish. I am desirous of no better reputation and 
happiness, than that of the friend of children. I 
wish to make them happy by providing their minds 
with rational employments and gratifications ; to 
make them wise by setting good examples of vir- 
tuous men before them ; and to make them good, 
by showing them, that, 

There surely is some guiding power 

That rightly, suffers wrong ; 
Gives vice to bloom its little hour, 

But virtue late and long. 

I hope you will understand and like to read 
the Tales from American History. I have given 
you but one volume, but if you like it, and other 
children like it, and their parents approve it, you 
shall have more stories from 

Your affectionate 

Afjst. 

Miv York, March 16, 1829. 



TAXiES 



FROM 



AMERICAN HISTORY, 



CHAPTER I. 



I KNOW, my dear little boys, that you have 
read Sir Waiter Scott's '< Tales of a Grand- 
father," and have been entertained and in- 
structed by his interesting stories of Scottish 
kings and queens. I think the history of your 
own country may also furnish you with stories 
which you will read with pleasure. The first 
discoverer of the American continent was one 
of the greatest men that ever lived, and his adven- 
tures will interest you as much as those of any 
hero of any nation. I am sure you will admire 
his noble character when you become acquainted 
with it, and I- hope, when you grow to be men, 
you will possess the same virtues. I will write 
for you some short histories of Columbus, and 
other eminent men, who are distinguished in the 
annals, that is, in the written history of your na- 
tive country, and I hope that you may be made 
wiser and belter bv their example. 
1 



2 GREEK AND KOMAK BOVS. 

The boys in ancient Greece and Rome were 
accustomed to hear and read of the great actions 
and generous sentiments of the patriots and wise 
men of their respective countries ; and the histo- 
ries in which they were instructed, are written, 
and, at the present time, are studied by boys of 
our country. The great men of antiquity ought 
to be remembered and honoured ; but those who 
are taught to reverence the justice of Aristides, 
the generosity of Cimon, and the moral wisdom of 
Socrates ; those who admire the simphcity of Cin- 
cinnatus, the eloquence of Cicero, and the hardi- 
hood and enterprise of Julius Caesar, should also 
be taught to revere the virtues of their own na- 
tional benefavitors — the courageous and disinte- 
rested men who encountered a thousand dangers, 
and performed unnumbered services for the benefit 
of those who should live after them. 

You perceive, my dear children, that I presume 
you are somewhat acquainted with the great men 
of Greece and Rome. I have written a little 
book, " Sequel to Popular Lessons," which gives a 
brief history of some of tlie most distinguished of 
the Greeks and Romans ; and if you have read 
that you are acquainted with those great men, 
even if you have not studied their thoughts and 
actions in Greek and Latin books. I presume 
you will be glad of another book written by your 
aunt, and will like it the better because it describes 
persons who have served and done honour to your 
native country. 

The most extraordinary event in modern histo- 
ry is the discovery of America ; but you cannot 
understand its imnortance unless vou attend verv 



AGE OF TUB WOKLD. 3 

patiently to wliat I shall tell you of the state of the 
world previous to that discovery. You must have 
Iieard of the old and the new world, and it is neces- 
sary that you should perfectly understand what 
these phrases signify. In the first chapter of 
Genesis an account is given of the creation of the 
material universe — that is, of the globe we inhabit, 
its animals and vegetables, the sun and other 
heavenly bodies which afford heat and light, and 
the human beings who became the parents of all 
mankind. 

According to the belief of Christians, the crea- 
tion happened four thousand years before the birth 
of Christ, and eighteen hundred years and a littlo 
more have elapsed since that time. The period 
from creation to the birth of Christ comprehends 
forty centuries. The period from the birth of 
Christ to the present time comprehends eighteen 
centuries. These two periods, the presumed age 
of the world, make nearly six thousand years. 
According to the Bible, the whole human race, 
except Noah and his family, perished in the deluge, 
or flood, sixteen hundred and fifty-six years after 
the creation. The inhabitants of the world, there- 
fore, who have existed since the deluge, are all 
descendants of Noah, and all that has happened to 
them, previous to the advent, or coming of our 
Saviour, is comprehended in twenty-three cen- 
turies. 

I have endeavoured to give you clear notions of 
time in respect to the history of mankind. I will 
now point out to you those parts of the globe 
which have been the abode of the most intelligent, 
increnious, and happy of the srreat family of man. 



4 CIVILIZATION. 

You know what is meant by the civilized and sa- 
vage states of society. You have been taught 
from your little books that men who have com- 
fortable habitations and clothing, who possess 
books and the arts of reading and writing, and 
whose business is carried on by means of coined 
money, are civilized ; while those who subsist by 
the chase of wild animals, who live in rude huts, 
dress in the skins of beasts, and who have no let- 
ters, are savage. Large tracts of the earth are 
now in this state, and still larger portions of it 
were formerly occupied in this manner. 

If you look at the map of the world, as it is 
known at the present time, you will see the coasts 
of Europe, Asia, Africa, and America distinctly 
marked out ; but if you examine a map of the an- 
cient world, you will see only the coasts of the 
Mediterranean, the southern countries of Europe, 
the western parts of Asia, and the north of Africa, 
clearly delineated. These parts of the globe were 
inhabited by civilized men previous to the year 
1492, and so much of it is called the old world, 
because, until that time, only so much of the globe 
was known to civilized men. In 1492 Columbus 
crossed the Atlantic Ocean and discovered the 
West Indies ; he afterward went to the continent 
of South America, and, in time, other navigators 
explored the coasts of North and South America, 
and ascertained the fact that the whole tract 
formed a vast continent in the western hemisphere. 
Europeans afterward emigrated to America, and 
their descendants now form numerous and diffe- 
rent states on this continent. After the discovery 
of iVmerica the people of Europe called it t\m 



THE HEBREWS. O 

new ivorldy and the eastern hemisphere was called 
the old icorld. Mii^s Edgeworlli relates that a lit- 
tle boy, for want of the explanation I have given 
you, imagined these were two separate worlds, and 
that the new world was created after the old 
world. You are not liable to this mistake if you 
pay attention to what I have told you. 

The inhabitants of different parts of the old 
world became known to each other by means of 
navigation and commerce, and afterward by wars. 
You will remember that the civilized portion of 
the old world, in ancient times, surrounded the 
Mediterranean. The people on the coasts learned 
by degrees to make vessels, in which they crossed 
the sea ; and passing from one country to another, 
became acquainted. The most remarkable peo- 
ple of antiquity were the Hebrews, whose history 
is related in the Bible. They lived at the head of 
the Mediterranean, but their country lay a little 
inland — in one place approaching the sea, but for 
the most part being bounded west by the territory of 
the Phoenicians. The Hebrews were a warlike and 
agricultural nation, but not distinguished by their 
foreign trade. Foreign trade means the exchange 
of goods for money between men of different coun- 
tries. This trade is carried on by ships. I have 
said that the Hebrews were not a commercial 
people ; but in the reign of the wisest of their 
kings, Solomon, who lived ten centuries before 
Christ, the Hebrews carried on a considerable traf- 
fick with the Tyrians, and probably with the neigh- 
bouring states of Egypt and Assyria. 

Egypt, from time immemorial, that is, from a 
time of which the beginning is not known, was the 
1* 



h EGYPT. 

most scientific and powerful of ancient nations. 
Fifteen centuries before Christ, Moses, the He- 
brew legislator, was instructed in " the learning of 
the Egyptians." The ruins of ancient edifices 
still remaining in Egypt exhibit proofs of immense 
wealth and industry in the former inhabitants, and 
the circumstance that Joseph's brothers went 
down into Egypt to buy corn, and that the Ro- 
mans, many years after, considered that country 
the granary of Rome, and imported large quanti- 
ties oi bread stuff, (as we in America call the sub- 
stances that make bread,) are all facts which show 
that the knowledge, the architecture, the agricul- 
ture, and the trade of Egypt, were of a high order 
for that age, and pecuHar to an intelligent race of 
men ; but the power of the Egyptians does not 
appear to have been that of conquerors abroad — 
it was the honourable distinction of mind employ- 
ed for the most part upon useful arts, and tending 
to make the nation happy at home. 

From a time previous to any tradition, Assyria, 
Persia, and India, afforded different articles of 
luxury. Silks, fine leather, carpets, spices, and 
perfumes, were severally to be obtained from these 
different countries. These articles became de- 
sirable to the Greeks after their defeat of the Per- 
sians, nearly five centuries before Christ, for the 
Persian invaders of Greece first made the inhabi- 
tants of that country acquainted with the luxuries 
of the east. You do, perhaps, understand the dif- 
ference between the necessaries and luxuries of 
life. Necessaries are those articles of food and 
clothing, the shelter of a rude dwelling place, and 
the warmth of fire, without which we could not 



rrilK, SIDON, AND (CARTHAGE. 7 

live at all : luxuries are rich food, elegant houses 
and carriages, pictures and statues, and ornamen- 
tal apparel. Every country furnishes the neces- 
saries of life to its inhabitants, but the productions 
of warm climates, and the manufactures of rich 
and ingenious people, furnish luxuries ; and 
ships and beasts of burthen must convey these 
luxuries from the people who possess to those that 
want them. 

Curiosity, or the desire of seeing what we have 
not seen, of knowing what we have not known, in- 
duces men to wish to go to different countries, 
where they have never been. The Phoenicians, 
a people who inhabited a small country at the head 
of the Mediterranean, west of Judea, invented 
ships, and the art of navigation. They were the 
most enterprising and commercial nation of anti- 
quity ; built the cities of Tyre and Sidon ; sent ships 
with their manufactures to the ports of the Medi- 
terranean ; planted colonies in Greece, and found- 
ed the city of Carthage, in Africa. The founda- 
tion of Carthage was laid eight hundred years be- 
fore Christ ; and that city, like the parent country, 
was famous, during many centuries, for its trade. 
The Romans first learned the art of ship-building 
from the Carthaginians. A Carthaginian vessel 
was wrecked on the coast of Italy, and the Ro- 
mans, by imitating the construction of this vessel, 
obtained a navy of their own. 

You have been told that the Greeks did not be- 
come acquainted with the luxuries obtained by an 
extended commerce till they had gained them by 
the defeat of the rich Persians ; but after that 
time they carried on a great trade from Gaul to 



8 CORINTH. 

Thrace. Massilia, the modern Marseilles, was a 
Greek colony originally : and Byzantium, now 
Constantinople, was also colonised by Greeks. 
The whole coast, from one to the other of these 
cities, wherever the country was cultivated, and 
the people were disposed to commerce, inter- 
changed their commodities with the Greeks. 

Corinth, the most commercial of the Greek 
cities, exhibited the different productions of all 
the civilized parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa. 
A writer describing Corinth as she was three cen- 
turies before Christ, says, "We saw the shore 
covered with reams of paper, (made of papyrus,) 
and sail-cloth from Egypt, ivory from Lybia, the 
leather of Cyrene, incense from Syria, Phoenician 
dates, Carthaginian carpets, corn and cheese 
from Syracuse, pears and apples from Eubcea, and 
Phrygian and Thessalian slaves ; not to mention 
a multitude of other articles which arrive daily at 
Corinth." This brief sketch of the trade of 
Greece is inserted in your Popular Lessons. 1 
repeat it here that I may bring into one view, or 
show you at once, the commerce and geography 
of the civilized world previous to modern disco- 
veries. 

Rome, you will remember, was founded seven 
and a half centuries before Christ : one hundred 
and forty-six years before the existence of our 
Saviour on earth, Corinth and Carthage became 
subject to Rome ; and not long after Western Asia 
and Egypt were included in the Roman empire ; 
so that the trade of all nations was controlled by 
the Roman laws, and tributary to Roman power. 
The Phoenicians, sometimes called the Tvrians 



ANCIENT COMMERCE. » 

from their city of Tyre, not only navigated the 
Mediterranean, but made themselves masters of 
harbours on the Arabian Gulf, or Red Sea. If 
you examine a map you will see Egypt on the 
west, Arabia on tlie east, and the country border- 
ing on Judea upon the north of the Red Sea. 
Phoenician vessels sailed from the harbours of 
these countries to the coasts of India and the Per- 
sian Gulf Some of the articles which these mer- 
chantmen trafficked in were brought down the In- 
dus, and others were transported by the Euphrates 
to the Persian Gulf, where they were taken up by 
the Tyrians and conveyed to their different ports 
of the Red Sea. At these ports the vessels were 
unloaded, and the goods were conveyed over 
land to the ports of the Mediterranean, where 
they were again shipped and sent to the cities of 
Europe. 

The over-land conveyance was laborious, slow, 
and dangerous. The caravans, or travelling com- 
panies, were exposed to the hardships of a hot 
climate, and to the attacks of robbers ; and when 
they had arrived at the place of their destination, 
the price of their labour was to be added to the 
price of their merchandise ; thus, the treasures of 
India, when they were distributed through Italy, 
Greece, and the Roman States in Africa, could 
only be procured at immense cost. You will ob' 
serve upon the map that the course thus taken by 
water and land was the shortest distance from In- 
dia to Europe ; but you must remember that a con- 
tinued water passage of much greater length might 
be effected with less difficulty and less expense. 

Alexander, of Macedon, was one of the men 



10 ALEXANDRIA AND BYZANTIUM. 

who are permitted by divine Providence to change 
the face of human affairs. He besieged and took 
the weahhy city of Tyre, vv^hich he entirely de- 
stroyed, and founded another city, which, hke 
Tyre, became the seat of the most flourishing 
commerce then carried on in the world. Tyre 
was destroyed three hundred and thirty-two years 
before Christ, and the foundation of Alexandria 
was laid four years after. The city was placed 
near one of the mouths of the river Nile, and be- 
came celebrated not only for its extensive trade, 
and its great wealth, but for schools of philosophy, 
for learned men and vast collections of books. 
The Saracens afterward took Alexandria, and 
destroyed its noble institutions. Its site still re- 
mains, and it is interesting on account of its de- 
parted glory. Alexandria was taken A. D. 640. 
For nearly a thousand years it had been the great- 
est commercial city in the world. 

After the taking of Alexandria by the Maho- 
medans, Constantinople became the great empo- 
rium, or principal seat of India trade. Constanti- 
nople was then the capital of the Eastern Empire. 
You know the Roman Empire, in the time of our 
Saviour, comprehended all the countries round the 
Mediterranean, and at that time Augustus Caesar 
was its master. Three centuries after, this vast 
extent of territory was thought by its emperor to 
be too large for one empire, and it was divided 
into the Eastern and Western Empires. Con- 
stantinople, before called Byzantium, became the 
capital of the Eastern Empire, before Christ 364, 
and Rome continued to be the capital of the Wes- 



VENICE. 1 1 

tern Empire, till barbarians from the north of Eu- 
rope took possession of that part of the world, and 
afterward divided it into kingdoms known in 
modern geography as Italy, France, Spain, and 
Portugal. 

Venice, at the head of the Adriatic Gulf, some 
time after, succeeded to the trade of Constantino- 
ple. The Venetian merchants contrived to obtain 
the transmission of India goods directly from Con- 
stantinople, and enriched themselves immensely 
by selling them to traders from the different coun- 
tries of Southern Europe. The Venetians having 
monopolized, or taken the whole of the India trade 
into their own hands, put an enormous price upon 
India goods, and excited much discontent in other 
European cities, whose inhabitants wished to pro- 
cure these goods at a cheaper rate ; and peopl-e 
began to reflect upon means of getting to India 
by some other course than over land, from the 
Mediterranean to the Red Sea, or from Constan- 
tinople by means of the Black Sea, the rivers and 
the Caspian, and thence over land to the Persian 
Gulf, if a passage could be found by the Atlantic 
Ocean, it would, perhaps, afford a free and easy 
course to all European nations, and give to all en- 
terprising and trading states the power of pro- 
curing at an easy rate whatever Southern Asia af- 
forded. 

I have now told you, my little boys, the reason 
why Europeans desired to find a new passage from 
Europe to India — in another chapter I will show 
you how they were enabled to attempt it ; and I 
will afterward relate to vou some interesting 



12 THE DARK AGES. 

facts concerning the greatest man who engaged 
in this undertaking, and the extraordinary disco- 
very which was made in consequence of pursu- 
ing it. 



CHAPTER ir. 

I HOPE, my young friends, that you had patience 
to read the preceding chapter, and to find upon 
the map the places mentioned in it. I promised 
to give you some account of the great navigator, 
Columbus, but you cannot understand his history 
unless you know something more than you now 
know in respect to the state of the world when 
Columbus lived. 

You must remember to have heard that barba- 
rians from the north of Europe ravaged Italy, and 
the western provinces of the Roman Empire, in 
the fifth century after Christ. The barbarians 
destroyed almost every thing beautiful and valua- 
ble that could be found in these fine countries. 
A few of the ancient books were hidden in con- 
vents, or left in neglected places ; but these igno- 
rant conquerors did not cultivate the art of read- 
ing, or permit their followers to do so, so that all 
literature and science was forgotten ; and many 
hundred years passed away in which the people of 
Europe lived in such extreme ignorance, that the 
thousand years which elapsed from the fifth to the 
fifteenth century have been called the dark ages. 

The eastern division of the Roman Empire ex- 
isted, and cherished learning, and Avas governed 
by the Roman laws long after the destruction of 



REVIVAL OF LEARNING. 13 

the Western Empire ; but the provinces of this 
empire fell into wars with one another. The 
barbarians of the north, and the warlike tribes of 
middle Asia and Arabia, at last desolated this em- 
pire also, and Constantinople submitted to the ig- 
norant Turks about a thousand years after the fall 
of Rome. 

About the middle of the fifteenth century printing 
was invented, books were printed, the Europeans 
began to read, to study the laws of nature, to cul- 
tivate science, to travel, and to found schools ; 
and kings and governors began to think it a duty 
to do good to their subjects, and to encourage 
wise men. Six centuries after Christ the igno- 
rant people of Europe, and their sovereigns, made 
a governor for all states and princes of the bishop 
of Rome, afterward known as the Pope. You 
have read in the Tales of a Grandfather, and in 
other books, how this power of the pope was con- 
ferred upon him. One pope after another was 
elected, and they beheved, or pretended to be- 
lieve, that their power was conferred by God him- 
self. Popery kept the people of Europe in igno- 
rance, for it forbade persons to inquire into their 
duties, and commanded them to believe whatever 
priests should tell them. It was for the interest 
of priests that the people should be ignorant, be- 
cause the people, who did not know better, would 
work for the priests, support large numbers of 
them in idleness, build them houses, and give them 
part of all they possessed. 

After printing was invented, people began to 
inquire what was true in every thing, and to wish 
to extend knowledge in all ways. This memora- 



14 THE MAGNET. 

ble change in tlie state of men's minds in Europe, 
is called in history the revival of learning. The 
neglected and forgotten books written in Greek 
and Latin were brought out of the convents ; 
many of them were printed and studied, and ori- 
ginal books were also published and read. At 
this period the spirit of maritime discovery was 
awakened. By the spirit of maritime discovery, I 
mean the desire to find countries previously un- 
known to the discoverers. I have shown you that 
the spirit of commerce, which is in fact the desire 
of wealth, had turned the attention of Europeans 
to the means of increasing their property by trade, 
and to the easy acquisition of foreign luxuries. I 
must now tell you how they succeeded. 

About the year 1302 it was discovered that a 
needle, or small iron rod, magnetized, or touched 
by a substance called the loadstone, pointed inva- 
riably north and south. By means of the magnet, 
properly adjusted, a ship out of sight of land might 
ascertain whether she was sailing north or south, 
east or west, or in any possible direction. For a 
hundred years no important use was made of this 
discovery ; but early in the fifteenth century, an in- 
strument called the Mariner's Compass was in- 
vented. This is a magnetic needle placed in a 
box, and fixed to a surface somewhat resembling 
the face of a watch, upon which, instead of the 
numbers that indicate hours of the day, letters 
signifying east, west, north, and south, &c. are 
marked, and serve to show the course which the 
vessel carrying the compass is pursuing. 

Portugal, the westernmost country of Europe, 
as you know, lies open to the Atlantic Ocean. 
That vast expanse of water is in full view of its 



PROGRESS OP DISCOVERS. 15 

western border, and seemed to invite men to ex- 
plore its unknown wonders. The Mediterranean, 
as its name signifies, is enclosed by shores no 
where very distant from each other ; but the At- 
lantic, to the people of Southern Europe, was in 
that age an illimitable sea, though it is said that 
navigators from Norway had discovered Iceland 
and Greenland, in America, in the eighth centu- 
ry, and soon after converted the Icelanders to 
Christianity. 

It is supposed that the Fortunate, or Canary 
Islands, were originally discovered by Phoenician 
navigators, who passed beyond the Pillars of Her- 
cules, or Straits of Gibralter, but that they were 
neglected and forgotten in succeeding times, and 
not recovered till some Spanish vessels touched 
there in 1365. In the fifteenth century the Por- 
tuguese led the way to the important discoveries 
of succeeding times ; and there is great pleasure in 
following the progress of discovery among them, 
from its first cautious attempts to its later splen- 
did achievements. 

Iheory is a belief of certain presumed facts, 
without examination and knowledge. Previously 
to the discovery of the Cape of Good Hope, some 
philosophers believed that the continent of Africa 
extended to the south pole, and formed a bounda- 
ry to Asia. This proved to be di false theory ; for 
you know that Africa only extends thirty-five de- 
grees south of the equator, and that though it ac- 
tually joins Asia at the isthmus of Suez, it is a vast 
peninsula alone in the waste of waters. 

I will tell you of another false theory which 
mariners of the fifteenth centurv believed in. 



IG PRINCE HENRY. 

<* 

You know that geographers divide the globe into 
five portions, called zones. That part of -. he earth 
which includes twenty-three and a half degrees on 
each side of the equator is the torrid, or hot zone. 
This zone is now continually traversed by ships 
of every country without fear, or greater danger 
than any other part of the ocean ; but, at the time 
of which T am writing, sailors supposed they must 
be burnt up should they enter the limits of this 
fiery region, and the fear of such a fate prevented 
them from sailing so far south as the tropic, or 
boundary of the torrid zone. 

John the First, King of Portugal, sent out 
ships to explore the western coast of Africa ; and 
his captains sailed as far south as Cape Bojador. 
King John had a son. Prince Henry, who was one 
of the most admirable men of his time, or of any 
age. You have read enough of history to know 
that princes in general wish to distinguish them- 
selves by conquering foreign nations, hke Alexan- 
der, who was not content with the sovereignty of 
Greece, but carried his armies to the Euphrates 
and subdued Persia, and afterward Egypt, and 
then wept because there was no other region to 
conquer ; or, like Bonaparte, who wanted to be 
master of all Europe, from the Mediterranean to 
the Arctic Ocean. Prince Henry, of Portugal, 
was animated by a nobler ambition — it was the 
desire of extending human knowledfife, and of 
making men better. Mr. Irving, in the Life of 
Columbus, says, he was "a person who has been 
well described ' full of thoughts oflofty eiiterprise 
and acts of generous spirit.' One who bore for 
his device the magnificent motto, ' The talent to 



COATS OF ARMS. 17 

do good,' — the only talent worthy the ambition of 
princes." 

Before I tell you any more of Prince Henry, I 
must inform you what is meant by a viotto or de- 
vice. You know that in ancient warfare soldiers 
dressed in armour, and carried a shield to defend 
themselves. Upan this shield was often engraved 
a line to express the bearer's intention in taking 
up the profession of arms, or to show that rule of 
conduct which was the favourite principle of his 
actions. I remember to have read a tragedy of 
Eschylus — The Seven Chiefs before Thebes. 
The war of Thebes is supposed to have happened 
twelve centuries before Christ. These chiefs 
were all described as bearing an inscription, and 
one of these inscriptions is excellent, in English 
it is, 

" To be — not to appear, the best." 

Miss Edgeworth mentions an Irish gentleman 
who adopted a device somewhat like that of the 
Greek chief — 

" Deeds, not words." 

This fashion of devices was adopted by Euro- 
peans during the middle ages, (from the fifth to 
the fifteenth century ;) and when armour went out 
of use, those persons who were descended from the 
bearers of it kept the device, and had it engraved 
or painted in a little picture called a coat of arms. 
This coat of arms was impressed upon seals and 
upon family plate, and is still preserved by many 
families as a mark of respect for their ancestors. 

9% 



18 USE OF KNOWLEDGE. 

In England there is a public office, called the 
Herald's Office, where all the coats of arms in 
the kingdom are kept, and recorded, with the 
names of the families to which they belong. Be- 
sides thf* writing, or inscription, the coats of arms 
exhibit figures — sometimes of an animal, a sprig 
of some plant, or an instrument, and these, ori- 
ginally, had some meaning. The description and 
explanation ofthese figures forms a science called 
Heraldry. Resides the inscriptions of coats of 
arms, devices, m the present time, are fixed upon 
military standards, and upon badges of various 
sorts. 

I will now return from this digression to Prince 
Henry. In order to do good, one must possess 
knowledge, or he will not understand how he shall 
perform great or useful actions. An ignorant 
man may mean well — a well-informed one only 
can accomplish what is excellent ; an ignorant 
man must be governed by others, but a person 
suitably instructed can guide, assist, and improve 
his fellow men. Such a one was Prince Henry. 
While he was young he withdrew himself from the 
society of frivolous persons, went into the country, 
collected learned men about him, studied diligent- 
ly, and established a college for the instruction of 
others. His example and exertions turned other 
minds to the same pursuits, and when he proposed 
generous rewards to persons who would undertake 
voyages of discovery, they readily engaged to prose- 
cute enterprises which so wise and beneficent a 
man projected. 

Under the patronage of Prince Henry, the 



GUINEA DISCOVERED. 19 

African coast was explored from Cape Blanco to 
Cape de Verd, and the Azore Islands were disco- 
vered. Among the first discoveries of Prince 
Henry's captains, was the island of Madeira, in 
!419. The name Madeira, signifies timber, and 
was given to this island, because when first dis- 
covered, it was uninhabited, and overspread with 
trees. The climate of Madeira is the most deh- 
cious and healthful in the world, and the island 
was soon colonised by the Portuguese Prince 
Henry procured some slips of the vine from the 
island of Cyprus, and had them planted at Ma- 
deira. From these, vast plantations of grapes 
hai'e ever since been cultivated, and Europe and 
the United States are constantly supplied with 
excellent wine from Madeira. 

The coast of Guinea was previously unknown 
to Europeans, but Prince Henry's vessels went 
thither and returned to Portugal with gums, gold- 
dust and ivory ; and, in this expedition the Por- 
tuguese saw, for the first time, negroes with their 
black faces, and short curled hair. Prince Henry 
was a Roman Catholic, and, to encourage men to 
enter his service, he engaged the protection of the 
pope. You have been told, that the pope pre- 
tended to the authority of God upon earth, and 
that princes and people in western Europe, con- 
sented to be governed by him ; so Prince Henry 
very v, isely engaged him in behalf of his designs. 

The pope issued a bull; that is, an order, 
granting, what did not belong to him all lands 
which the Portuguese might discover in the Atlan- 
tic, even if they should extend to India, to the 



20 CAPE OP GOOD HOPE. 

kings of Portugal, excluding all others who 
might lay claim to these regions. When you 
look upon a map, and see what an immense gift 
the continent of Africa was, you will be astonish- 
ed at its magnificence ; but you must remember, 
that neither the pope, who gave it, nor the prince 
who accepted it for himself and his successors, 
knew its extent, or could judge of the impossibi- 
lity of one monarch possessing and goveming 
that great territory. 

Prince Henry regarded Africa with the utmost 
benevolence ; it was his intention to make Chris- 
tians of his African subjects, and to send into their 
country ministers of religion who should instruct 
them. It must be regretted, that he did not live 
to serve these unfortunate* people. After his 
death, the Europeans made slaves of the poor 
negroes, and in the colonies which they after- 
ward founded in America have held them in 
slavery and ignorance. Prince Henry died in 
1473, without accomplishing a passage by the 
Atlantic to India. 

After the death of Prince Henry, John the Se- 
cond succeeded Alphonso, king of Portugal, and 
pursued the discoveries which the prince had be- 
gun. One of his ofiicers, Bartholomew Diaz, 
steered towards the south, till he reached the 
southern promontory of Africa ; but he encoun- 
tered such violent storms, that he dared not ven- 
ture to pass the cape, which he called Cape Tor 
mentoso, or, the Stormy Cape ; but when Diaz 
returned to Portugal, with intelligence of his dis- 
covery, King John called it the Cape of Good 
Hope, because he anticipated, that, by doubling 



PASSAGE TO INDIA. 



21 



tliis cape, and steering through the ocean which 
had been opened to Diaz, he should at last find 
the long wished-for passage. 

Ten years afterward, (1497,) Vasquez de Ga- 
ma, with a PortujTuese fl^et, foUowing the track 
which Prince Henry's navigators had begun to 
explore, doubled the Cape of Good Hope, sailed 
to India, and opened to Europe the desired com- 
muniration with Asia ; and, from this period, 
" Portuijal, from bein^ one of the least among 
nations, became one of the most important." 

You will think, children, that I have forgotten 
America, and its great men, but indeed I have 
not ; you would not understand all that I wish to 
inform you of, unless I should give you some ele- 
mentary knowledge, by which 1 mean information 
of circumstances that relate to the persons and 
events whose history I would relate. I will, in 
the next chapter, mtroduce you to the illustrious 
Christopher Columbus, 



2t COLUMBUS. 



CHAPTER III. 



I HAVE told you, in my last chapter, that in the 
fifteenth century the Portuguese, of all the nations 
of Europe, prosecuted maritime discovery with 
the greatest eagerness ; but it was reserved to 
their neighbours, the Spanish, to promote the 
greatest of all discoveries, that of the continent of 
America. The chief honour of this achievement, 
however, belongs to the individual who accom- 
plished it. 

Christopher Columbus was born of a humble 
and worthy family in the city of Genoa. His 
father was a wool-comber of the name of Colom- 
bo — his illustrious son adopted the Latin termina- 
tion of Columbus. The Latin language, at the 
time when Columbus lived, was that in which 
statesmen and princes wrote their letters, and 
every person in a public station of importance, 
wrote his name in conformity to this usage. Co- 
lumbus had a son named Fernando, who, after his 
death, wrote a history of his father's life, and this 
son despised the pride then very common in Eu- 
rope of being descended from noble ancestors, but 
he felt the true honour of his distinguished parent. 
Mr. Irving gives the words of Fernando Columbus 
thus, " I should derive less dignity from any no- 
bility of ancestry, than from being the son of such 
a father." 

Columbus was the eldest of four children, three 
sons and a daughter. His brothers Bartholomew 
and Diego are mentioned in his history. It appears 



COLUMBUS. ^ti 

that his parents, though poor, were sensible of 
the value of knowledge, and bestowed upon their 
children such instruction as could be obtained for 
them, and that Columbus improved his opportuni- 
ties to the utmost advantage. He was taught 
reading, writing, arithmetic, drawing, and paint- 
ing ; and all that he learned he acquired such 
skill in using, that by any branch of his knowledge, 
said one of his contemporaries, '• he might have 
gained a livelihood." Columbus was also sent 
for a short time to Pavia, a city of Lombardy, the 
most celebrated of any at that time in Italy, for 
its schools of learning. Here he was made ac- 
quainted with the Latin tongue, but his chief at- 
tention was given to mathematics, to geography, 
and astronomy, then called astrology. 

It is not uncommon to meet with boys who have 
a strong inclination to folloiD the sea^ as they call 
it — to leave their homes and their native country 
to see something more wonderful and magniiicent 
than the groves and valleys, or the streets and 
houses to which they are accustomed. A feeling 
like this animated the young Columbus ; but he 
added to it the noble and praiseworthy desire to 
benefit mankind. In the present age of the 
world, the curiosity of the young mariner is direct- 
ed to some well known shore ; but the hopes and 
wishes of Columbus embraced the " great globe 
itself." He longed to go forth and penetrate the 
thick darkness which was upon the face of the 
deep ; to find some good land never seen by Euro- 
pean eyes ; and it was the labour of his life to ac- 
comphsh this mighty enterprise. 

How Columbus passed his early years is not 



24 COLUMBUS. 

precisely known, but it is supposed that from the 
age of fifteen to thirty-five, he spent the greater 
part of his time on the Mediterranean, sometimes 
engaged in merchant vessels and sometimes in 
warlike enterprises. At that period the Barbary 
States sent out their corsairs, or piratical vessels, 
to intercept the merchantmen of Soul hern Eu- 
rope, and the states of Italy kept up wars with one 
another ; so that the hardihood of the soldier was 
essential to the character of the sailor ; and the 
defence of life and property was as necessary to 
the trader as to the vessel expressly sent out to 
fight. 

Columbus was induced to go to Lisbon by the 
attention paid there to navigation, and by the so- 
ciety of learned men, who studied geography and 
mathematics — his chief studies resembled theirs, 
and he lived always in the hope to be permitted by 
Providence to prosecute some great discovery. 
Columbus was persuaded that one third of the 
globe remained unknown to the inhabitants of the 
old world, and he believed that it was fertile and 
inhabited. Voyagers, who had sailed west of the 
Azores, reported that they had seen land plants 
floating on the ocean ; that pieces of wood, carved 
in a manner different from the workmanship of 
Europe, had also been found : and the dead bodies 
of two men, of a different complexion from Euro- 
peans, had been cast upon one of the western 
islands. Columbus considered these circumstances 
as proofs that his theory was true. 

Columbus was eminently a devout man. He 
thanked God sincerely, that from a child his taste 
and his studies w ere directed to navigation, and he 



COLUMBUS. -O 

thought himself appointed by God to bring men 
of distant regions together ; to make them ac- 
quainted with each other ; and to instruct Pagans 
in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour. The 
dignity of his mind, and the sublimity of his de- 
signs, made him feel himself upon an equahty with 
princes. He proposed to discover empires, and 
to present them to the European sovereign who 
should aid him in his project ; so that, though he 
was a poor man, he did not esteem himself the 
less, but felt that his mind raised him above the 
inferior considerations of rank and fortune. 

Columbus was too poor to fit out vessels for the 
expedition in search of the new world, which he 
meditated ; and he also thought it necessary that 
some prince should take part in his enterprise, be- 
cause such a person only could govern the terri- 
tory he might discover, and which, according to 
the ideas which men in that age entertained of pro- 
perty- he conceived would belong to the king 
whose subjects might discover it. You must re- 
member that the pope gave away all Africa to 
Prince Henry of Portugal, and Columbus had the 
same notions which Prince Henry had respecting 
the authority of princes. 

At the present time no such opinions prevail, 
and civilized men have more just conceptions of 
the rights of savages. Perhaps you have read of 
the discoveries of Captain Cook and other navi- 
gators in the Pacific Ocean. In 1778 Captain 
Cook discovered the Sandwich Islands — ^just fifty 
years ago, (1828.) He was in the service of the 
king of Great Britain, but Captain Cook did not 
therefore imagine that the Sandwich Islands be- 
3 



2Q COLUMBUS. 

longed to the king of England, nor did the khig 
ever take the islands ; he left them in possession 
of the natives ; and, instead of injuring the island- 
ers, British ships go to the islands, and English 
merchants send English goods thither, and huy 
whatever the islanders have to sell. Besides car- 
vying on a peaceful trade with the men of the 
South Sea, the English sent out to them missiona- 
ries on purpose to instruct those ignorant people 
in reading, and in the Gospel ; and also to teach 
them to build comfortable houses, to cultivate the 
fields, and to make decent garments. I have told 
you this that you may know that nations act with 
more good sense and humanity in this age of the 
world than they did three hundred years ago. 
When you come to read the treatment of the Eu- 
ropeans to the natives of the Western Continent, 
after the former people had discoveied it, you will 
understand how nations, at the present time, have 
improved in philanthropy, or love to makind. 

In 1484 Columbus presented the plan of a 
voyage across the Western Ocean to John II. of 
Portugal, and the king laid it before a council of 
bishops and nobles, for their approbation. The 
council decided that the scheme of Columbus 
could not end in any acquisition of importance ; 
but some of the king's counsellors proposed a 
treacherous experiment to ascertain the truth of 
Columbus's theory, and, if possible, to deprive him 
of the honour of his undertaking. T'o this unwor- 
thy suggestion the king gave ear, and consented 
to the mean and dishonest measures which I will 
relate to you. 

King John required Columbus to give him in 



COLtTMBtS. 37 

writing a plan of his intended voyage, to which 
the unsuspecting petitioner readily consented. 
When the king had learned the course which Co- 
lumbus intended to pursue, he despatched a vessel 
upon the rbute pointed out by Columbus, pre- 
tending she was sent with provisions to the in- 
habitants of the Cape de Verd Islands. The cap- 
tain sent upon this expedition had neither perse- 
verance nor skill. He departed secretly from 
Portugal, but was soon intimidated by stormy 
weather and returned, and those who had pro- 
moted his voyage afterward ridiculed the designs 
of Columbus. 

While Columbus resided in Portugal he mar- 
ried, and had a son called Diego. The un- 
generous treatment he received wounded his 
noble spirit, and having lost his wife he re- 
solved to quit Portugal, and, not discouraged, to 
seek out the favour of some wiser government. 
ToAvards the end of 1484, he departed from Lis- 
bon, taking with him his son Diego. It is uncer- 
tain whither Columbus went immediately on his 
departure from Lisbon. Some writers say that he 
went to his native city of Genoa, to solicit aid from 
that Republic; others assert that his visit to 
Genoa was made to his father, and that having 
made some arrangements for his comfort he again 
repaired to foreign courts. Now I will leave Co- 
lumbus. The next time you shall hear of him 
will be from Spain. 



-<^> COLUMBUS. 



CHAPTER IV. 

I PROMISED to return to Columbus on his arri- 
val in Spain. I will give you an account of his 
first appearance in that country in the words of 
his American biographer, Mr. Washington Ir- 
ving, who has taken this part of his history from 
the report of one of Columbus's contempora- 
ries, Garcia Fernandez, a physician resident in 
the little sea-port of Palos de Maquez, in An- 
dalusia. " Abot^t half a league from that town 
stood, and stands at the present day, an ancient 
convent of Franciscan friars, dedicated to Santa 
Maria de Rabida. — A stranger, on foot, accom- 
panied by a small boy, stopped one day at the 
gate of the convent, and asked of the porter a lit- 
tle bread and water for his child. 

" While receiving this refreshment, the prior of 
the convent, Friar Juan Perez de Marchena, 
happening to pass by was struck with the appear- 
ance of the stranger, and observing from his air 
and accent that he was a foreigner, entered into 
conversation with him, and soon learnt the parti- 
culars of his history. That stranger was Colum- 
bus, accompanied by his young son Diego. 
Where he had come from does not clearly ap- 
pear ; that he was in destitute circumstances is 
evident from the mode of his wayfaring. He was 
on his way to the neighbouring town of Huelon, 
to seek his brother-in-law, who had married a sis- 
ter of his deceased wifo," 



FEIAR JUAN PEHEZ. 29 

You know that a convent is a house where reh- 
gious persons, men or women of the Roman 
Catholic persuasion, reside together — men in a 
house by themselves, and women by themselves. 
The principal priest, or governor of the convent, 
is sometimes called a prior. It is considered the 
duty of the male residents in convents to show kind- 
ness and hospitality to wayfaring and destitute per- 
sons ; so it was quite proper and according to cus- 
tom, for Columbus, when his little boy Diego 
stood in need of sustenance, to ask it at the gate 
of a convent The most learned men at that time 
in Europe were some of the priests, or ecclesias- 
tics. 

The good prior of La Rabidad not only read 
and thought much, but had conversed with navi- 
gators, and loved the science of geography. He 
was delighted with Columbus, persuaded him to 
remain a short time in the convent, and sent for a 
friend of bis, the physician Garcia Fernandez, to 
come and see his guest. To these persons Co- 
lumbus related his misfortunes and his plans — they 
perceived that he was indeed a great man, and 
that the voyage he proposed to make might be of 
tije utmost consequence ; therefore. Friar Juan 
Perez gladly assisted him. The prior had a 
friend, Fernando de Talevera, who was confessor 
to Isabella, queen of Spain. 

The office of confessor is that of a Roman 
Catholic priest, who takes care of the spiritual 
welfare of other persons, that is, he instructs them 
in what is right and wrong, and that if they are 
sorry for their sins God will forgive them. The 
penitfnt goes to the priest, who hears the man or 



30 rilE aUEEN OP SPAIN. 

woman relate his or her thoughts and actions, 
and then gives the person who has confessed, ah- 
5o/^?AZiow— an assurance that his sins are pardoned, 
and will not be punished by God. If you should 
ask how a priest dares to forgive nien's sins, I 
will tell you that God promises to forgive those 
who have done wrong, if they are determined to 
do right in future ; and a good priest will only de- 
clare this to a true penitent, who is a person sin- 
cerely sorry for his sins, whatever they are, and 
resolved to amend, or become better. 

Queen Isabella was a Catholic and a very pious 
woman : she respected her confessor highly, and 
he could easily persuade her to do what he thought 
would be for the benefit of Spain. In I486, the 
court, which is a king's family, was fixed at the 
city of Cordova, and thither Columbus repaired, 
bearing a letter from Prior Juan Perez to Fer- 
nando de Talevera This letter recommended 
Columbus to the confessor, explained his plans, 
and urged Talevera to make the king and queen 
acquainted with him and his projects. At the 
same time Prior Juan Perez offered to maintain 
and educate Diego Columbus, so his father left 
him at La Rabidad, and departed for the court of 
Ferdinand and Isabella. 

You must have read of the Moorish conquest 
of Spain. The Goths established themselves in 
Spain, and were themselves subdued by an irrup- 
tion of the Moors, who remained for seven hun- 
dred years in the peninsula. The Moors went 
over to Spain from the country of Morocco — they 
were originally Arabs, were an active, ingenious, 
and scientific people, though they were Mahome- 



THK MOORS. .31 

ilans. They introduced into Spain the Saracenic 
architecture, and many useful arts ; but during the 
seven centuries of their continuance in Spain, 
they were never sole masters of the country. 
Spain was divided into provinces, several of which 
was governed by its own king ; and in the reign 
of Ferdinand and Isabella, all the provinces fell 
under their government, except the kingdom of 
Grenada, to which the Moors retreated, and 
whence the sovereigns of Spain resolved to expel 
them. Ferdinand and his queen believed that 
they were rendering a service to God in punishing 
infidels, as the Mahomedans are called by the 
Catholics. When Columbus made his first appli- 
cation for assistance to the court of Spain, the 
sovereigns were engaged in a war with the Moors, 
and had no leisure to attend to his petition, nor 
money to spare to fit out a fleet for him. 

Queen Isabella was one of the most lovely and 
virtuous women in the world. She loved her 
people, was truly religious, and delighted to en- 
courage learning, and to reward learned men. 
Her disposition to do good was enough to inspire 
hope in the persevering Columbus. He arrived 
at Cordova in the year 1486, but he could not im- 
mediately obtain a hearing. The queen's con- 
fessor did not consider his plan practicable, and 
paid little attention to him. Mr. Irving supposes 
that the humble garb and low fortunes of Colum- 
bus made the courtiers regard him with contempt, 
for a Spanish historian said of him, " Because 
he was a stranger, and went but in simple apparel, 
not otherwise credited but by the letter of a gray 
friar, they believed him not, neither gave ear to 



32 COLUMBUS AT ST. STEPHEN'S. 

his words." From all liis history it appears that 
he was very poor, and it is a melancholy fact that 
he was forced " to beg his way from court to 
court, to offer princes the discovery of a world." 

In every trial the future discoverer of America 
had confidence in his final success, and though he 
had little encouragement, he remained about the 
court, designing maps for support, and making 
liimself intimate with great men, who were freely 
admitted to the king and queen. Of these his best 
friend was Mendoza, archbishop of Toledo, and 
grand cardinal of Spain. This prelate was satis- 
fied that Columbus deserved a hearing from the 
sovereigns, and at his request they gave him an 
audience, after which they ordered an assembly 
of learned men to examine his plans, and report 
their opinion of them. This consultation took 
place in the convent of St. Stephen, which be- 
longed to the college of Salamanca, and after 
much discourse Columbus was dismissed without 
any encouragement, though some candid and 
generous minds in the assembly were convinced 
that he had advanced a rational theory, and merit- 
ed aid ; and from that time the sovereigns grant- 
ed money for his maintenance, though they fur- 
nished none for his voyage. 

Columbus continued his suit till 1491, when 
Fernando de Talevera was commissioned by the 
sovereigns to inform him that until the war should 
be ended, they could not engage in his enterprise, 
and that then they should interest themselves in 
it. Grieved and disappointed at this delay on the 
part of the king and queen, Columbus hoped 
that the kinsr of France might afford him prompt 



COLUMBUS AT GRENADA. 33 

assistance, and determined to go to Paris, and 
present himself at court. Previously to his in- 
tended departure from Spain, he repaired to La 
Rabidad, in order to remove his son Diego to 
Cordova, and to take leave of Friar Juan Perez. 
That good priest saw with regret his friend return 
poor and unsuccessful ; but when he heard the 
story of his weary attendance, and vain solicitation 
at the court, he comforted him ; and, with the 
advice of Garcia Fernandez, and of Martin Pin- 
zon, a rich citizen of Palos, wrote a letter to 
Queen Isabella, entreating her to befriend his un- 
dertaking. 

The queen immediately summoned Juan Perez 
to her presence, and, as soon as he received her 
command, he mounted his mule, and, journeying 
through the countries lately conquered from the 
Moors, soon arrived at Santa Fe, near Grenada, 
where the queen was with the army. Juan Perez 
easily convinced that beneficent princess of the 
merit of Columbus, and of the possibility that he 
might confer important benefits upon her people. 
No sooner was Isabella persuaded of this, than 
she sent to La Rabidad for Columbus, ordering 
for his use a sum of money, equal to two hundred 
and sixteen dollars at the present time. 

Columbus readily obeyed her majesty. He ar- 
rived at Grenada at the time when the Moors sur- 
rendered their last hold, the city of Grenada, lo 
the king and queen. I mention this memorable 
circumstance to you, because it is an important 
date in Spanish history. Mr. Irving has given a 
splendid description of the rejoicings upon this 
Of'casion. Speaking; of Columbus, ho says, •' He 



34 SURRENDER OF THE MOORS. 

beheld Boabdil, the last of the Moorish kings, 
sally forth from the Alhambra, and yield up the 
keys of that favourite seat of the Moorish power, 
while the king and queen, with all the chivalry, 
and rank and magnificence of Spain, moved for- 
ward in proud and solemn procession, to receive 
this token of submission. 

" It was one of the most brilliant triumphs in 
Spanish history. After near eight hundred years 
of painful struggle, the crescent was completely 
cast down, the cross exalted in its place, and the 
standard of Spain was seen floating on the highest 
tower of the Alhambra. The whole court and 
army was abandoned to jubilee. The air re- 
sounded with shouts of joy, with songs of triumph, 
and hymns of thanksgivmg. On every side were 
beheld military rejoicings and rehgious oblatiofis. 
The king and queen moved in the midst, in 
more than common magnificence, while every eye 
regarded them as more than mortal. The court 
was thronged by the most illustrious of that war- 
like country ; by the flower of its nobility ; by 
the most dignified of its prelacy ; by bards and 
minstrels. There was nothing but the glittering 
of arms, the rustling of robes, the sound of music, 
and festivity." 

I suppose you understand, that, to cast down 
the crescent and exalt the cross, is a figurative ex- 
pression, which signifies, that when the crescent, 
the badge or sign of the Mahomedan religion 
was removed, and the cross put in its place, the 
followers of Mahomet were expelled, and the 
Christian religion, which is indicated by the sign 
of the cross, became triumphant. This is quite 



GLNEKOi?rrV OF ISABELLA. OO 

piaiu, dear aunt, I think I liear you say, but when 
will Columbus get to sea, if we stop so long with 
the conquerors of the Moors. We must leave 
them in possession of their Moorish palace, the 
Alhambra, and all the fine buildings which the 
Moors left behind them in Spain, and follow our 
noble Genoese over the wide ocean. 

Isabella was now at leisure to listen with atten- 
tion to Columbus, but at first she was not so li- 
beral as he desired. He proposed to be made 
admiral and viceroy of the countries he should 
discover, and to take for his own, one tenth of the 
riches he might gain, giving the rest to the king's 
disposal. The office of viceroy is that of a civil 
governor, who has the authority of a king in some 
province belonging to an absent prince. Isabel- 
la for a while thought Columbus demanded too 
much, but he would yield nothing, and Luis Si, 
Angel, one of his friends, pleaded in his behalf. 
The high-minded Isabella did not long hesitate? 
but having disposed of all the money she could 
command to defray the expenses of the late war^ 
she offered to pledge her jewels to procure funds 
for the use of Columbus. St. Angel assured her 
that this was not necessary, as he would supply 
the money, and the queen accepted his offer. 
Three thousand crowns was the sum needed, be- 
sides two vessels. 

All that Columbus had asked was granted by 
the king and queen, though their subjects were 
unv.'illing to furnish vessels or to engage with Co- 
lumbus as mariners. The commission, or writing 
which empowered Columbus to commence his 
operations, was dated at Grenada* April SOth? 



36 DEPARTURE FROM SPAIN. 

1492, and signed by Ferdinand and Isabella. 
Columbus added a third vessel, which the Pinzons, 
rich men of Palos enabled him to do, and on this 
account he was to have one eighth of the profits 
of his voyage. The queen, as a particular mark 
of respect to Columbus, appointed his son Diego 
page to her son. Prince Juan, with an allowance 
of money for his support. For eighteen years 
Columbus had persevered under every discourage- 
ment, and though he was now fifiy-six years old, 
be joyfully entered upon the grandest undertaking 
ever devised by man. 

I will soon commence the detail of his voyage, 
and you will be interested with his success as much 
as you have been in his prolonged anxieties and 
mortifications. 



CHAPTER V. 

To resume the history of Columbus. On Fri- 
day, the third of August, 1492, he set sail on his 
first voyage of discovery. His largest ship, the 
Santa Maria, was commanded by the admiral. 
The second, the Pinta, was commanded by Alon- 
zo Martin Pinzon, and the third, the Nina, by his 
brother, Vincente Yanez Pinzon. The whole num- 
ber of officers, adventurers and mariners, on board 
these ships, was an hundred and twenty. The 
squadron being ready for sea, Columbus and the 
men under his command solemnly committed 
themselves to divine Providence, and departed 



TEAK OF TiiNJiRIFlE. Oi 

from Paios with the prayers and bles.sings of their 
friends and relatives. You must remember that 
their return was much more doubtful than a voy- 
age of discovery undertaken- at the present time, 
for the ships were not larger than the vessels which 
navigate our rivers, and the most distressing fears 
agitated the hearts of those who savv' their friends 
embark upon an unknown and boundless ocean. 

In nine days Columbus reached the Canaries? 
and sailing among these islands his ships passed 
the famous Peak of Teneriffe, which " was send- 
ing out volumes of flame and smoke." The igno- 
rant sailors considered this as a " disastrous por- 
tent," or bad sign, as we sometimes say. The 
admiral took pains to relieve their false and su- 
perstitious fears, by instructing them that this vol- 
cano resembled Mount Etna and other volcanoes, 
and intimated no misfortune to them. The fleet 
had been detained for the repair of one of the 
ships, the Pinta, three weeks at the island of Go- 
mera, and it was not till five weeks after the de- 
parture from Spain that they lost sight of the 
Island of Ferro, one of the Canaries. At this 
moment the courage of the crew failed. Thev 
seemed to have departed from the known world, 
from those they loved, and from all familiar thino-s : 
they despaired of ever again seeing their homes, 
and while some melted into tears, others broke out 
into loud lamentations. 

Now I must tell you that Colujnbus rather ex- 
pected to find a short way to Asia than to discover 
a new continent. One Marco Polo, a Venetian 
traveller, had written an account of his travels in 
Tartary and Eastern Asia, and liad coniectured 
1 



38 SIGNS OF LAND. 

that an island of the Japanese empire, which he 
called Cipango, extended much farther to the east 
than any island of Japan really does extend ; and 
he had given splendid accounts of the riches of 
these Asiatic countries. Columbus, therefore, ex- 
pected to approach them by keeping a westerly 
course from Europe ; he also expected that he 
should participate in their treasures of gold and 
'silver, and that, for " this meat that perisheth," 
as the scripture calls riches, he should give them 
that knowledge of the Christian rehgion which 
then existed in the Roman Catholic faith. 

To calm and comfort his terrified sailors, '< He 
described to them the magnificent countries to 
which he was about to conduct them ; the islands 
of the Indian seas teeming with gold and precious 
stones ; the regions of Mangi and Cathay, with 
their cities of unrivalled wealth and splendour." 
Nor were these promises made only to encourage 
his crew ; " Columbus," says Mr. Irving, " cer- 
tainly believed that he should realize them all." 
By the middle of September, still keeping a wes- 
terly course, they met masses of floating vegeta- 
bles. Some of these weeds were such as grow 
about rocks, others such as are produced in 
rivers. This was naturally considered as a proof 
that land lay not far distant ; and besides these 
appearances, " They saw also a white tropical 
bird, of a kind which never sleeps upon the sea." 
A delicious atmosphere, soft, temperate, and re- 
freshing, pervaded the waters over which they 
were now gently but speedily wafted. 

On the 1 8th of September a " steady breeze 
from the east filled everv sail, while, to use the 



DESPAIR OF THE SAILOKS. 39 

words of Columbus, the sea was as calm as the 
Guadalquiver at Seville." Alonzo Pinzon on 
that day imagined that he descried distant land at 
the north ; but Columbus did not believe in the 
appearance, and in despite of the wishes of those 
under his command, to steer in that direction, he 
persevered in the westward course. Still a vast 
sea expanded itself without limits. The sailors 
began to despair of reaching the land, and to com- 
plain loudly of their wretched lot, which they be- 
lieved would be to perish in these " shoreless wa- 
ters," as they considered them ; but their com- 
mander, trusting that God had appointed and re- 
served him for a great work, ever cherished hopes 
which raised him above such melancholy antici- 
pations. The disaffected sailors, in their despair 
of ever returning to Spain, resolved, if the admiral 
should refuse to return, that they would throw 
him into the sea, and then steer for Spain, where 
they would represent that Columbus had acciden- 
tally fallen overboard. " Columbus was not ig- 
norant of these mutinous intentions ; but he kept 
a serene and steady countenance, soothing some 
with gentle words, and menacing the most refrac- 
tory with signal punishment." A pension of thir- 
ty crowns had been offered by the Spanish go- 
vernment, to him who should hrst discover land, 
and many reports of " land ! land !" claimed, 
without deserving that reward. 

On the 1 7th of October Columbus had sailed 
seven hundred and fifty-six leagues westward of 
the Canaries, and was arrived at the distance at 
which he expected to find the ideal Cipango, but 
no land was discernible ; and, to gratifv his fol- 



40 FEARS RELIEVED. 

lowers, he bent his course farther south. " It is 
vrorthy of remark," says Mr. Irving, "that, on 
the evening of the seventh of October, before Co- 
lumbus changed his course to the southwest, ho 
was, according to modern calculators, sailing along 
the twenty-sixth degree of north latitude, nearly 
due west. This would have taken him, by the in- 
fluence of the gulf stream, to the eastern coast of 
Florida. The whole course of Spanish discovery 
might have taken a direction along the Atlantic 
shores of North America, and a Spanish popula- 
tion have been given to the present territories of 
the United States." 

On Thursday, October 11 th, revolt was silent — 
mute messengers from land announced that a 
haven for the weary mariners, was near; a 
branch of thorn, with berries on it, and recently 
separated from a tree, a reed, a small board, a 
staff, artificially carved, floated towards them, and 
all said, we come from the surface of the earth, 
we are made for the convenience of man — his 
liabitations are near. His food and the work of 
his hands invite you to forget all fear, to proceed 
to his dwelling place, and to partake of his 
comforts. 

These objects relieved the minds of the anx- 
ious crew, and they now eagerly watched for 
the first sight of the desired shore. I cannot de- 
scribe to you the joyful event of the discovery in 
any language more plain, and in none so beautiful, 
as Mr. Irvint^'s. I will, then, give you parts of 
his narrative. 

" In the evening, when, according to invariable 
cu>tom on board of the admiral's ship, the mari- 



THE DISCOVEKV. 41 

ner's had sung the Salve Jlegina, or vesper hymn 
to the Virgin, he made an impressive address to 
his crew. He pointed out the goodness of God 
in thus conducting them by such soft and favour- 
ing breezes across a tranquil ocean; cheering 
their hopes continually with fresh signs; thus 
leading and guiding them to a promised land. He 
thought it probable, they should make land that 
very night ; he ordered, therefore, a vigilant look- 
out to be kept, promising, to whomsoever should 
make the discovery, a doublet of velvet, in addi- 
tion to the pension to be given by the sovereigns." 

During this day, they made great progress, the 
Pinta taking the lead, on account of her sailing 
more rapidly than the other vessels. The crew 
were too happy for sleep at night, and the admi- 
ral was constantly on the watch. About ten 
o'clock, he thought he beheld a light at a great 
distance. He called two gentlemen to look in 
the same direction, and they also perceived the 
light — again and again it appeared and disappear- 
ed, " as if it were a torch in the bark of a fisher- 
man, rising and sinking with the waves ; or, in the 
hand of some person on shore, borne up and 
down as he walked from house to house." At 
two in the morning, the Pinta fired a gun, the 
joyful- signal of land. It was first descried by a 
mariner, named Roderiquez de Frianon ; but the 
reward was afterward bestowed upon the admiral, 
who had before perceived the light. 

From that hour, to the dawn of day, the admi- 
ral's thoughts must have been employed in con- 
jectures concerning this new region. The moving 
light had shown, that it was the residence of man. 
4* 



42 CONJECTURES. 

" But what were its inhabitants ? Were they like 
those of the other parts of the globe ? Had he 
come upon some wild island of the Indian Sea, or 
was this the famed Cipango itself?" Would morn- 
ing display a savage wilderness, or the spires of 
some busy and populous city? Dayhght revealed 
a beautiful and interesting scene. But I will 
leave that for another chapter, and finish this chap- 
ter by repeating this description in the verses of 
Mr Rogers, who wrote a poem called the "Voy- 
age of Columbus." 

" The sails were furl'd ; with many a melting close 
Solemn and slow the evening anthem rose, 
Rose to the Virgin. 'Twas the hour of day, 
"When setting suns o'er summer seas display 
A path of glory, opening in the west 
To golden climes, and islands of the blest, 
And human voices, on the silent air. 
Went o'er the waves in songs of gladness there ! 

"Chosen of men ! 'twas thine at noon of night. 
First from the prow to hail the glimmering light. 
' Pedro ! Rodrigo ! there, methought it shone I 
There, in the west ! and now, alas, 'tis gone ! 
'Twas all a dream ! we gaze and gaze in vain ! 
But, mark and speak not, there, it comes again I 
It moves ! what form imseen, Avhat being there, 
With torch-like lustre fires the murky air ! 
His instincts, passions, say, how like our own ! 
Oh ! when will day reveal a world unknown '" 



THE LANDIIS'U. 43 



CHAPTER VI. 



The island on which Columbus first landed was 
one of the cluster now called the Bahamas, which 
extend northwest and southeast from the coast of 
Florida to Hispaniola. The natives called it 
Guanahani. It now bears the name, which the 
admiral gave it, San Salvador. On the morning 
of Friday, 12th October 1492, this island first 
presented itself to the eyes of Europeans. The 
view of it was beautiful, the level surface of the 
ground being covered with herbage of the freshest 
green, overshadowed with stately trees. There 
was no appearance upon the soil of much cultiva- 
tion, but it evidently afforded sustenance to man, 
for multitudes were seen running from the woods 
to the shore, and gazing with wonder at tl>e ships. 

These people were all naked, and exhibited the 
utmost astonishment at the objects before them. 

Columbus caused his ships to cast anchor, and 
fdled the boats with armed men. A boat belong- 
ing to each of the vessels, was commanded by the 
respective captains. These boats bore a banner 
on which was emblazoned a green cross, having 
on each side the initials F. and Y. surmounted 
by a crown. These were to indicate the names 
of the king and queen of Spain, Ferdinand and 
Ysabel. Columbus in his own boat took the lead 
— the richness of his dress, and the dignity of his 
manner, pointed him out as the chief. 

The devout heart of the admiral, always pene- 
trated with the majesty and j^oodness of God. was 



44 OATH OF ALLEGIArfCE. 

at this moment, exalted by the highest emotions 
of gratitude. The moment he had set his foot 
upon the land he threw himself upon his knees, 
kissed the earth, and with uphfted eyes and hands 
returned thanks to the divine Being. Those who 
surrounded him followed his example. After this 
expression of thankfulness, Columbus displayed 
the royal standard of Spain, and taking solemn 
possession in the name of the Spanish sovereigns, 
named the island, San Salvador. Upon the con- 
clusion of this ceremony he called upon all pre- 
sent to take the oath of allegiance to him, as ad- 
miral and viceroy, representing the persons of the 
sovereigns. 

You may not exactly understand the oath of 
allegiance. — It is a solemn vow made to God, by 
the subject of a monarchy, to honour and defend 
the monarch's person and authority, and to obey 
all laws of the realm or kingdom under the go- 
vernment of the monarch mentioned. It is ro 
quired to take this oath when men enter into new 
offices, and duties of a public nature. To repre- 
sent a king'^s person is for a man to command 
others as a king would do if he were present In 
a republic no oaih of alleiiiance to a king can be 
enforced, but in many cases the citizens of a state 
are required to swear that they acknowlr-^ge and 
will defend the constitution or laws. 

The followers of Columbus, who had considered 
him as their betrayer, now regarded him as the 
bestower of riches and honours ; and while some 
acknowledged their faults, begging the admiral's 
pardon for the trouble they had given him, others 
promised obedience in future, and asked favours 



?vATIVES OP THE BAHAMAS. 4iJ 

as if he already possessed the treasures which they 
presumed might be found in the new world. 

It is curious to read the account which Mr. 
Irving gives of the astonishment of the natives of 
San Salvador at the sight of the strangers. The 
ships were different from any object they had ever 
seen. Their little canoes had no sails, and could 
contain only a few men. The Spanish vessels 
were supposed by the natives to be monsters of 
the ocean, of which the sails were wings. The 
wonder of the natives became terror, when they 
clearly saw the men on board — some dressed in 
bright colours, and others in glittering steel — 
which you will remember was the armour then 
worn by distinguished officers. Perceiving these 
figures to resemble human beings, but of a colour 
and deportment which they had never seen, they 
fled affrighted, and hid themselves in the woods. 

As the white men did not pursue nor attempt 
to injure them, the savages returned to the coast, 
but with awe and reverence toward the strangers, 
prostrating themselves before them, and making 
signs of worship. The notion, that Europeans 
were superior beings, descended from heaven, 
was for a long time entertained by the aborigines 
of America. Cohmibus, at the period you are 
now reading of, was the chief object of their ho- 
mage. His appearance, and the respect paid to 
him by his followers, commanded more admiration 
Irom them than any other individual. The admi- 
ral, on his part, was interested by their simplicity, 
their growing confidence, and their curiosity, and 
suffered them to approach and examine the per- 



46 THEIR TERSONS AND ARMS. 

sons who appeared to them at once so formidable 
and attractive. 

The Spaniards were equally curious concerning 
the Indians, as all the natives of the American 
continent and islands have since been called. 
You recollect that Columbus was in search of In- 
dia, and presumed that the first land which he 
found was part of the eastern continent — then 
generally called India by the people of Europe. 
Believing thus, the Spaniards, properly enough 
gave the name Indians, to the natives of the whole 
western world. 

The Indians exhibited nothing to induce the 
Spaniards to believe, that they possessed any 
wealth. They were naked, and painted with va- 
rious colours. Their skin is usually described as 
copper coloured, and their hair straight and black ; 
more, says a writer who has described them, Hke 
a horse's mane, than any other thing. Their hair 
was long, hanging over the shoulders. " Their 
features, though obscured and disfigured by paint, 
were agreeable ; they had lofty foreheads, and re- 
markably fine eyes. They were of a moderate 
stature, and well-shaped." 

These islanders were gentle in their demeanour, 
and exhibited kind, benevolent dispositions. Their 
only arms were spears or lances with a sharp 
flint, tooth, or fish bone, inserted at one end. 
They had no iron among them, and were so igno- 
rant of its properties, that they took a sword by 
the edge. They were dehghted with glass beads, 
and similar trifles. The Portuguese navigators 
had found the negroes of Africa fond of such 
baubles, and Columbus was provided with them. 



FOOD AND ORNAMENTS. 47 

He readily distributed them among the Indians, 
who hung them about their necks, and considered 
them of supernatural value, as the gift of their 
heaven-descended visiters. 

In return, the Indians presented to the white 
men balls of cotton yarn, parrots, and cassava 
bread. This cassava bread was prepared from a 
root called Yuca, which grows in the West Indies 
The admiral, afterward, with the boats of the 
ships coasted the island, passing several villages, 
whose inhabitants exhibited the same admiration 
for white men, which their countrymen at first 
expressed The island, though sufficiently pro- 
ductive to supply the wants of the natives, con- 
tained nothing of value to the discoverers. Co- 
lumbus, therefore, after having taken in wood and 
water, set sail in prosecution of further discove- 
ries, carrying seven of the natives, who were to be 
taught the Spanish language, and to serve as in- 
terpreters between the Spaniards, and such na- 
tives of the regions they might discover, as should 
be acquainted with their speech. 

Gold was the principal thing which the Spa- 
niards were desirous to find, but in search of this 
precious metal, they explored the Bahama islands 
in vain. The natives adorned their persons with 
small pieces of unwrought gold, which they wil- 
lingly exchanged for toys and glass trinkets, but 
the Spaniards wished for mines. They under- 
stood, by signs made by the natives, that it abound- 
ed in a country which lay to the south. In con- 
sequence of this information, Columbus steered 
from the Bahamas in the direction which had been 
pointed out. Though these islands were destitute 



48 GBNEHOSITY OF THE SAVAGED. 

of gold, they were the abode of innocent aiid 
happy people, and afforded all the pleasures and 
comforts of a delicious climate, and a soil produ- 
cing the necessaries of life, with abundance of 
fruits, flowers, and beautiful tropical birds. 

The inhabitants of all the islands felt the same 
reverence for the Spaniards, and freely gave them 
whatever they possessed. " When the Spaniards 
landed in search of water, they took them to the 
coolest springs, the sweetest and freshest runs, 
filling their casks, rolling them to the boats, and 
seeking, in every way, to gratify their celestial vi- 
siters." These favours were conferred with the 
purest generosity, but the avaricious Spaniards 
were continually disappointed by want of gold. 
Columbus was sensible, that these poor people de- 
served the same kindness themselves which they 
showed to others, and he uniformly treated them 
with the utmost benevolence. Mr. Irving relates 
two instances, in particular, of the admiral's good- 
ness to them. 

When Columbus was about to depart from the 
second island at which he touched, one of the na- 
tives, who was on board of the Nina, perceiving 
the strangers v;ere taking him far from his home, 
threw himself into the water, and swam to a canoe 
filled whh Indians. The boat of the Nina pur- 
sued the fugitive ; the Indians rowed their light 
canoe with such velocity, that they reached the 
shore, and fled to the woods, leaving the canoe to 
their pursuers. Soon after, a small canoe, with a 
single Indian in it, approached one of the ships, 
offering a ball of cotton in exchange for hawk's 
bells. As he came near the vessel he manifested 



AND OF THE ADMIRAL. 49 

some iiear of the Spaniards, and several sailors 
threw themselves into the sea, and made him pri- 
soner. The admiral saw the whole proceeding, 
and ordered the Indian to be brought to him. 
The poor man was led trembling towards him, 
and offered him the ball of cotton. 

" The admiral received hirn with the utmost 
benignity, and, declining his offering, put a co* 
lour<^d cap on his head, strings of green beads 
around his arms, and hawk's bells in his ears ; 
then ordering him and his ball of cotton to be re- 
placed in the canoe, dismissed him astonished and 
overjoyed. He ordered that the other canoe, also, 
which was fastened to the Nina, should be cast 
loose, to be regained by its proprietors. When 
the Indians reached the shore, Columbus could 
see his countrymen thronging round him, exa- 
mining his finery, and listening to his account of 
the kind treatment he had experienced." 

I shall not be guilty of a plagiarism, that is, of 
stealing from another writer and assuming his 
words, as my own, if I give you in Mr. Irving's 
words the other instance mentioned of Columbus's 
friendly treatment of the islanders. To the second 
island which Columbus discovered, he gave the 
name of Santa Maria de la Conception. The 
third, at present Exuma, he named in honour of the 
king of Spain, Feriiandina. As he was sailing 
from Conception to Fernandina, about midway, 
" they overtook a single Indian in a canoe. 
He had a mere morsel of cassava bread, and a 
calabash of water for his sea stores, and a little 
red paint, like dragon's blood, for his personal de- 
coration when he should land. Thev found, also, 



50 ISLAND OF FERNANDINA. 

a string of glass beads upon him. such as they had 
given to the natives of San Salvador, which shouted 
that he had come from thence, and was probably 
then passing from island to island, to give notice 
of the arrival of the ships. Columbus admired the 
hardihood of this simple navigator, making such an 
extensive voyage in so frail a bark. As the island 
was still distant, he ordered that the Indian and 
his canoe should be taken on board, where he 
treated him with the greatest kindness, giving him 
bread and honey to eat, and wine to drink." 
When the ships had nearly reached Fernandina, 
the Indian voyager's canoe was let down to the 
sea, his little treasure restored, and he sent joy- 
fully to the shore to acquaint the islanders of the 
approach of the ships. 

'< It was then too dark for the vessels to make the 
shore; but the next day the report of the Indian who 
had been sent to the island, was found to have in- 
spired its inhabitants with cordiality and confi- 
dence toward the Spaniards. They surrounded 
the ships, bringing fruits, and roots, and pure wa- 
ter from the springs." The inhabitants of the 
other islands appeared without clothing. The fe- 
males of Fernandina were attired in scant gar- 
ments of cotton. " Their habitations were very 
simple, being in the form of a pavilion or high cir- 
cular tent, constructed of branches of trees, of 
reeds and palm leaves. They were kept very clean 
and neat, and sheltered under beautiful and spread- 
ing trees. For beds, they had nets of cotton, ex- 
tending from two posts, which they called hamacs.^- 
Sailor's beds on board ships are constructed in 



ISLAND OF ISABELLA. 51 

this manner, and they are called by this Indian 
name. 

The next island of the Bahama cluster which 
Columbus discovered, he called for his royal pa- 
troness, Isabella. Before they departed from 
Fernandina, the Spaniards understood from signs 
made by the Indians, that in the island to which 
they nitended to steer, there " was a mine of gold, 
and a king who dwelt in a large city and possessed 
great treasures, wearing rich clothing, and jewels 
of gold- and bemg sovereign of all the surrounding 
islands. They found the island, but neither the 
monarch nor the mme." Isabella resembled the 
other islands in its climate and productions, but 
Columbus esteemed it to be the most delightful of 
them all. 

No animals were seen in these islands except 
lizards, dumb dogs, the coney a kind of rabbit, 
and guanas, a species of harmless snake which the 
Indians were accustomed to eat. The thirst of 
gold was not yet gratified. In answer to all in- 
quiries concerning this metal, the natives still 
pointed south, and mentioned Cuba as the place 
vvhich afforded it. Toward Cuba, then,, the admiral 
directed his course. We will now leave tho 
Bahamas. 



52 



PrMB DOGS. 



CHAPTER VII. 



Columbus now only made himself acquainted with 
the eastern part of that island ; and, as he never 
explored the whole of it, he always presumed that 
it was the eastern extremity of a continent. Cuba 
was its Indian name. It was not ascertained to 
be an island till 1508, when a captain named Se- 
bastian sailed round it. Three years after the 
Spaniards settled at the port, since called St. Jago, 
and established themselves as masters of Cuba, 
which they have ever since retained. 

Steering southwest three days from Isabella, on 
the 28th of October Columbus reached Cuba, 
landed, and took possession of the country, and 
gave it the name of Juana in honour of Prince 
Juan. In succeeding times it has been known by 
the original name. On the arrival of the ships 
two canoes put off from the shore ; but when the 
islanders saw some of the Spaniards approaching 
in a small boat, they retreated through fear, and 
concealed themselves. After the ceremony of 
taking possession was finished, the admiral entered 
two cabins which had been abandoned by their af- 
frighted inmates. They contained but few articles : 
— Nets made of the fibres of the palm tree, fishing 
hooks, and harpoons of bone, and one of that >pe- 
cies of dog that never barks. You perceive that 
this faithful animal is the constant companion of 
man both in his wild and cultivated state, and is, 
in all countries that you read of, the sharer of his 
toils and his comforts. 



EIRDS AND INSECTS. 53 

Mr. Irving's description of the climate and na- 
tural productions of Cuba, is taken from the re- 
port of Columbus, who kept a journal of all that 
he saw and felt, for the information of the king and 
queen of Spain. Whenever you can understand 
the style of Mr Irving, \ choose to make you ac- 
quainted with it, for its grace and elegance ; so I 
will give you liis words in that description. Of 
Cuba he says, " Thi; verdure of the groves and 
the colour of the flowers, derive a vividness to the 
eye from the transparent purity of the air, and the 
deep serenity of the azure heavens. The forests, 
too, are full of life, swarming with birds of bril- 
liant plumage. Painted varieties of parrots and 
woodpeckers create a glitter amidst the verdure 
of the grove, and humming birds rove from flower 
to flower, resembling, as has been well said, ani- 
mated particles of a rainbow The scarlet flamin- 
goes, seen sometimes through an opening of a 
forest, m a distant savannah, have the appearance 
of soldiers drawn up in battalion ; with an ad- 
vanced scout on the alert, to give notice of ap- 
proaching danger. Nor is the least beautiful part 
of animated nature the various tribes of insects 
that people every plant, displaying brilliant coats 
of mail, which sparkle to the eye like precious 
gems." 

It is asserted by other writers, that the insects 
of these tropical countries are so exceedingly lus- 
trous, that they diffuse light to a considerable dis- 
tance ; and it is said that these living gems serve 
for ornaments to the ladies of Havana, who wear 
them on their hair, on festal occasions. Thev 
6* 



64 INDIAN VILLAGES. 

exhibit the colours and brilliancy of rubies, sap- 
phires, and diamonds. 

Columbus now believed that he had arrived at 
Cipango, and resolved to pursue a vi^estern course, 
till he should reach the magnificent city of its 
king, concerning vi'hom Marco Polo had written. 
In the course ol" his voyage, he landed at several 
places and visited the nearest vifllages. " The 
houses were neatly built of branches of palm trees, 
in the shape of pavilions ; not laid out in any re- 
gular streets, but scattered here and there, among 
the groves, and under the shade of broad spread- 
ing trees, hke ter)ts in a camp ; as is still the case 
in many of the Spanish settlements, and in the vil- 
lages in the interior of Cuba. At sight of the 
strangers, the inhabitants fled to the mountains, 
or hid themselves in the woods. The houses 
were better built than those the Spaniards had 
hitherto seen and k<pt extremely clean. They 
found in them rude statues and wooden masks, 
carved with considerable ingenuity." 

Three Indians, nati\es of San Salvador, who 
were on board of the Pinta, informed Pinzon, the 
commander, that four days' journey from the place 
in which they were, was a place called Cubana- 
can, which abounded in gold. Pinzon thought 
they spoke of Cublai Khan, a Tartar prince men- 
tioned by Marco Polo. He also understood them 
that Cuba was not an island, but part of a conti- 
nent, extending to a vast distance north, and that 
the king, who reigned in this vicinity, was at war 
with the khan of Tartary. Upon receiving this 
misconceived information, Columbus ceased to 
believe himself in Cipango, but believed he was at 



THE INTERPRETER. 55 

the eastern extremity of the grand khan's do- 
minions. He therefore resolved to send an em- 
bassy to the king, with a present, and to despatch 
men in search of the gold. 

On the first of November, he sent some of the 
Spaniards on shoje, to visit the natives, but they 
instantly concealed themselves through fear. Co- 
lumbus then ordered one of the Indians, whom he 
had brought with him, to assure the natives of his 
peaceable intentions, and he succeeded in gain- 
ing their confidence. Before night sixteen canoes 
surrounded the ships, bringing cotton yarn, and 
other articles, from the islanders ; but among 
them there was no gold. Columbus, anxious to 
know more ot the country, sent two Spaniards, 
Rodrigo de Jerez and Luis de Torres, accompa- 
nied by two Indian guides, int the interior, upon 
an embassy to the nnaginary king. They were 
furnished with strings of beads and other trinkets. 

On the 6th of November, Jerez and his com- 
panions returned, and every one crowded about 
them to hear tidings of their adventure. It was 
no more than this. After travelling thirty-six 
miles they came to a village containing about a 
thousand inhabitants. The strangers were re- 
ceived with solemnity, and conducted to the best 
house. When they were refreshed by food and 
rest, the natives requested to know what they had 
to say and the Bahama, or Lucayan Indian, served 
them for an interpreter. 

" He made a regular speech, after the Indian 
manner, in which he extolled the power, wealth, 
and munificence of the white men. When he had 
finished, the Indians crowded round these wonder- 



5t) POTATO AND TOBACCO. 

ful beings, whom, as usual, they considered more 
than human. Some touched them, examining 
their skins and raiment ; otlrers kissed their hands 
and feet in token of submission, or adoration. In 
a little while the men withdrew, and were succeed- 
ed by the women, and the same ceremonies were 
repeated. Some of the women had a slight co- 
vering of netted cotton round the middle ; but 
most of the inhabitants, of both sexes, were entire- 
ly naked." 

Neither king nor gold was to be found ; the 
envoys, therefore, proposed to return. The na- 
tives urged them to remain among them for a 
few days ; but seeing the Spaniards resolved to 
quit them, they were anxious to go along with 
them, fancying they came from heaven, and would 
conduct them thither. They took with them only 
one of the chief men, attended by his son and a 
servant. I should have told you, that a few days 
before this, Columbus, or some of his followers, 
had found the potato, until that time unknown to 
Europeans, but a more valuable acquisition than 
that fatal gold which they so ardently coveted. 
The envoys, as they returned to the ships, first saw 
the plant now called tobacco The natives made 
rolls of it, in a dry state, like cigars, and smoked 
them. The rolls were called tobacco, from which 
the whole plant has received its name You 
know that men of Europe, and the United States, 
hav§ adopted the Indian fashion of smoking this 
plant in a dry state. 

The return of the envoys undeceived Colum- 
bus in respect to the king and the treasures of 
the country ; but while they were gone the In- 



HAYTI. 57 

dians informed the admiral, by signs, of a place 
to the eastward, where the people found gold on 
the banks of a river, and wrought it into bars 
with hammers. Columbus understord the In- 
dians to call this [)lace Babeque. He now became 
anxious to return to Spain ; and, if possible, to 
carry with him some productions of the new world, 
more valuable than any he had found. He did 
not know that a new hemis[)here for Europeans 
to inhabit, with a delicious climate, a fertile soil, 
and abundance of vegetables, suitable for food and 
manufactures was a better gift to them than all 
the gold and ^ems of the earth. 

Th t ships now lay at anchoi at the mouth of a 
river called at present Savannah le Mar. When 
he departed from this plaCe he took with him se- 
veral native men and women, with the intention of 
carrying them to Spain, where they were to be in- 
structed in the Spanish language, and in the doc- 
trines of the Catholic f^ith From the 12th of 
November to the 5th of December, Columbus, 
with some delays and interruptions, proceeded 
from the river to the eastern extremity of Cuba. 
While he was at this place, and deliberating what 
course to take, land was descried on the south- 
east. It proved to be Hayti, afterward Hispa- 
niola- 

I have omitted to mention to you that once in 
this voyage, when the wind was blowing directly 
against him, and Columbus would have ordered 
his ships back again to Cuba, he discovered that 
Pinzon had abandoned him. Pinzon had heard 
from the Indians of a region at the east abounding 
in gold, and he resolved to go in search of it, and 



58 ADVENTURE OP SAILOES. 

to take as much as he could find for himself. The 
Pinta was the fastest sailer, and all pursuit of her 
was useless, so Columbus retained only the Santa 
Maria, and the Nina under his command. 

In the evening of the 6th of December, Co- 
lumbus entered a spacious harbour at the western 
extremity of Hayti, which he called St Nicholas, 
the name it still bears. After remaining here two 
days, he coasted along the northern side of the is- 
land, which from the resemblance it bore to Spain, 
the admiral named Hispaniola. Wherever they 
stopped, the natives fled. The country appeared 
to be populous and cultivated. 

On the 12th of December at a place, which 
Columbus called Port Conception, he erected a 
cross, the sign of the Catholic faith and of the au- 
thority of the king of Spain. "As three sailors 
were rambhng about the vicinity, they beheld a 
large number of the natives, who immediately took 
to flight ; but the sailors* pursued them, and with 
great difficulty succeeded in overtaking a young 
and beautiful female. They brought their wild 
beauty in triumph to the ships. She was perfectly 
naked — but an ornament of gold which she wore 
in her nose gave hopes that the precious metals 
were to be found in the island. The admiral soon 
soothed her terrors by his kindness. He had her 
clothed, and made her presents of beads, brass 
rings, and other trinkets, and sent her on shore, 
accompanied by several of the crew, and three of 
the Indian interpreters " So pleased was the 
woman with this kind treatment that she would 
gladly have remained with the Indian women on 
board the ships. 



CONDITION OF THE ISLANDERS. 69 

The woman's village was eighteen miles from 
the shore ; and on the next day after she had 
been brought on board, Columbus despatched 
nine well armed men to obtain some intelligence 
from it. An interpreter accompanied them. The 
natives discovered the utmost alarm at the sight 
of the white men, and many fled and concealed 
themselves ; but the interpreter quieted those who 
remained, by the assurance that the strangers came 
from the skies, and went about the world making 
beautiful presents. Getting intelligence of this, 
the natives returned, and to the number of two 
thousand approached the Spaniards, with their 
hands upon their heads in token of respect. While 
the Spaniards were conversing with them, another 
company came up, bearing on their shoulders the 
woman who had been entertained on board the 
ship, attended by her husband. 

They invited the Spaniards to their village, which 
contained two thousand houses. There they set 
before them roots, fruit, cassava bread, and fish ; 
offering them parrots, and part of whatever they 
possessed. At this time this simple people ap- 
pear to have enjoyed every blessing which liberty 
and a beautiful and productive country can afford ; 
at a subsequent period they were deprived of all, 
by their rapacious conquerors. The happy state 
they were in, and their amiable dispositions previ- 
ously to this unfortunate change are thus repre- 
sented by Columbus, in a letter to his friend Luis 
de St. Angel. " True it is," he observes " that 
after they felt confidence, and lost their fear of us, 
they were so liberal with what they possessed, that 



60 TWO KACES OF INDIANS. 

it would not be believed by those who had not 
seen it. If any thing was asked of them they 
never said no ; but rather gave it cheerfully, and 
showed as much amity as if they gave their very 
hearts ; and whether the thing were of value or of 
little price, they were content with whatever was 
given in return. In all these islands it appears to 
me that the men are all content with one wife, but 
they give twenty to their chieftain or king." 

An old writer, Peter Martyr who resided as a 
Catholic missionary to the Indians in the West 
Indies, describes them in similar terms. " They are 
content," says he '• with so little, that in so large 
a country they have rather supeifluity than scarce- 
ness ; so that they seem to live in the golden world, 
without toil, living in open gardens not entrenched 
with dykes, divided with hedges, or defended with 
walls. They deal truly one with another, without 
laws, without books, and without judges. They 
take him for an evil and mischievous man who 
taketh pleasure in doing hurt to another." — The 
government of these innocent people was what is 
termed tiie patriarchal. Their princes or kings 
M ere called caciques. 

The West India islands were at that time in- 
habited by two very distinct races. The mild, con- 
tiding, generous character, which Columbus and 
Peter Martyr gave to one of them, does not apply 
to the other. The natives of tl>e larger island's 
appear to have been amiable, and benevolent ; 
while those of some of the other islands the Ca- 
ribs, are memorable for their ferocity, their war- 
like habits, and the horrid practice of cafinibalism. 



YOUNG CACIQUE. 61 

I think you must now have become interested in 
the fate of the poor Indians, and the further suc- 
cesses of the discoverer of America. In another 
chapter we will follow his eventful fortunes still 
further. By " what you have been told of his 
undeviating humanity to the natives of the western 
world, you must be led to admire his wisdom and 
genertjsity. I wish it were in my power to 
show you that his virtues were recompensed as 
they deserved. Late posterity honours his me- 
mory, but his contemporaries exhibited towards 
him little of the justice or generosity which is the 
proper reward of disinterested services to man- 
kind. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

, In the last chapter, I intimated to you, that the 
Spaniards requited the kindness of the Indians 
with cruelty ; but while they were few in number, 
and under the control of Columbus, this unworthy 
conduct was not permitted. The timidity of the 
Indians was soon encouraged by kindness, and 
they all regarded the strangers with cordiality, 
and treated them as superior beings. The dignity 
and state of their princes, as well as their liberal 
feelings, is evinced by the following relation. 

" While detained by contrary winds at Port Con- 
ception, Columbus was visited by a young ca- 
cique, of apparently great importance. He was 
borne by four men on a sort of litter, and attend- 
6 



62 CACIQUE'S VISIT. 

ed by two hundred of his subjects. The admiral 
being at dinner when he arrived, the young chief- 
tain ordered his followers to remain without, and, 
entering the cabin, took his seat, beside Colum- 
bus, not permitting him to rise, or use any cere- 
mony. Only two old men entered with him, who 
appeared to be his counsellors, and seated them- 
selves at his feet. If any thing was given him to 
eat and drink, he merely tasted it, and sent it to 
his followers, maintaining an air of great gravity 
and dignity. He spoke but little, his two coun- 
sellors watching his lips, and catching and commu- 
nicating his ideas. 

After dinner, he presented the admiral with a 
belt, curiously wrought, and two pieces of gold. 
Columbus gave him a piece of cloth, several am- 
ber beads, coloured shoes, and a flask of orange- 
flower water. He showed him Spanish coin, on 
which were the likenesses of the king and queen, 
and endeavoured to explain to him the power and 
greatness of those sovereigns. The cacique 
could not be made to behevc, that there was a re- 
gion on earth which produced these wonderful 
people and wonderful things ; he joined in the 
common idea, that the Spaniards were more than 
mortal, and that the country and sovereigns they 
talked of, must exist somewhere in the skies." 

In the evening, this prince departed in the style 
in which he had come. Near him, were his son 
and brother ; the former borne along, and attend- 
ed like his father ; the latter on foot with two at- 
tendants. The gifts of the admiral to these 
courtly personages, were carried before the pro- 
cession with becominsf state- 



G'UACANAGARI. bo 

Columbus continued to explore the northern 
coast of Hayti, and, on the 20th of December, 
anchored al a place at present called the Bay of 
Acul. The inhabitants came out to the ships in ca- 
noes, bringing with them delicious fruits, and rea- 
dily giving the Spaniards small ornaments of gold. 
Among the visitors, were caciques of different 
villages, who invited the Spaniards to accompany 
them to their homes, where they were hospitably 
entertained. 

On the 22d of December, a grand cacique, 
named Guacanagari, who governed that part of 
the island, sent a mission to invite the admiral to 
visit him ; at the same time, presenting him with 
a wrought belt, and a wooden mask, of which, 
the eyes, nose, and tongue, were of gold. It was 
not convenient for the admiral to comply imme- 
diately with this invitation, but he sent several of 
his men to make the desired visit. The town in 
which Guacanagari resided, was larger and better 
built than any they had yet seen. The cacique 
received the Spaniards in a public square, which 
had been swept and put in order to receive the 
honoured strangers. Here, as on every similar 
occasion, presents were made by the Indians to 
their guests. 

The night of the 24th was very unfortunate for 
Columbus. He, in general, kept a vigilant ob- 
servation wherever there was any possible danger. 
On the previous morning, he had set sail for the 
harbour of Guacanagari, and had nearly reached 
it on Christmas eve. The sea was calm, and the 
vessel scarcely moved. Columbus had slept little 
the night before, and, feeling himself safe in the 



64 THE SHIPWRECK. 

man who held the helm, (that part of the vessel 
which directs its course,) he went to rest. But 
the unfaithful steersman, against the admiral's 
regulations, gave the helm in charge to a careless 
and ignorant boy, and betook himself to his bed. 
The rest of the mariners, who, for the security of 
the ship, were set upon the watch, followed his ex- 
ample. In consequence of this carelessness, the 
ship was forced upon a sand bank, from which it 
was found impossible to remove her, and, had not 
the winds and waters been uncommonly calm, she 
would have been destroyed, and all her crew 
would have perished. Fortunately, they were fa- 
voured by the weather, and enabled to take refuge 
on board the Nina. 

When this misfortune was reported to Guaca- 
nagari, he shed tears of commiseration, and im- 
mediately sent out his people with all the canoes 
they could muster, to unload the vessel. When 
this was done, all the articles taken from the ship, 
were safely deposited near the dwelling of the ca- 
cique, without injury, or the loss of the least of 
them. On the 26th of December, the cacique 
paid the admiral a visit on board the Nina and 
consoled him by every expression of kindness. 

When Columbus returned this visit, he was re- 
ceived by the cacique with such courtesy and 
gracefulness, that he appeared to the admiral with 
a dignity becoming the majesty of a prince, born 
and educated in a European country. The fish, 
flesh, roots, and fruits of the country, were offered 
to the Spaniards as a refreshment. The manners 
of Guacanagari were singularly refined and deco- 
rous in respect to his eating. He was slow, and 



THE SPANIARDS CONTEINTED. G5 

moderate in the indulgence of his appetite, and 
when he had satisfied himself, washed his hands, 
and rubbed them with odoriferous herbs. 

After the entertainment, Columbus was con- 
ducted to the groves which surrounded the habita- 
tion of the chief There were about a thousand 
Indians, all naked ; these were ordered by the 
cacique to perform their national games and 
dances, for the eniertainment of the admiral and 
his attendants. Columbus, in his turn, exhibited 
to them the novel spectacle of Moorish bows and 
arrows, and European firearms. 

The cacique told the admiral, that the Caribs, 
the enemies of his countrymen, made descents 
upon them, armed with weapons similar to his 
bows and arrows. When the Indians heard the 
report of a cannon, and an arquebuse, and per- 
ceived that the trees were shivered by them as 
with lightning, they fell to the ground in astonish- 
ment and dismay . But their fears were removed 
by the assurance, that the Spaniards would be 
their protectors, and only employ these destructive 
engines in their defence against the Caribs. 

The friendliness of the cacique, the mild man- 
ners of his people, and quantities of gold which 
were daily exchanged for the poorest trifles, toge- 
ther with reports that gold aboimded in the inte- 
rior of the country, all contributed to console the 
admiral for his misfortune. The shipwrecked 
crew were delighted with the indolence and ease 
with which they were permitted to live, and began 
to prefer the habits of savages to those of civilized 
man. 

6* 



66 WARM COUNTRIES. 

In a warm country, the people have no need of 
the various garments, or expensive houses, which, 
in cold climates, are an indispensable protection 
from the elements ; and their simple food of fruits 
and fish, is procured without the industry and fa- 
tigue which our agriculture requires. We must 
labour for our comforts. By the sweat of man's 
brow, among us- he must be fed, sheltered, and' 
clothed ; but in tropical countries, the desire of 
every living thing is immediately satisfied by the 
spontaneous growth of the soil, and a very little ef- 
fort to apply its uses. The light trunks of their 
trees, placed at proper distances, and covered with 
the interweaving of their ample leaves, form a 
comfortable dwelling ; clothing is not wanted in 
their soft atmosphere, and earth yields her in- 
crease to them with unsparing bounty, without 
their care ; so that they can eat, drink, and live 
without the toils of seed time and harvest, and 
without concern how they shall be warmed and 
sustained. 

The Spaniards loved this lazy luxury, and many 
of the seamen entreated the admiral, that, when 
he should return to Spain, they might be permitted 
to remain on the island. 

Perhaps you would like to know how the ca- 
cique obtained his power, and how he exercised 
it. I will tell you. The sovereignty was heredi- 
tary. On the decease of a cacique his son suc- 
ceeded him ; but if he left no son, his sister^ s son 
succeeded. This mode of succession seems to be 
peculiar to these islands, or only known among 
them. The form of government was completely 
despotic. The people had no letters, and, con- 



PATRIARCHAL GOVERTCMENT. 67 

sequently, no written laws ; nor had they any law 
but the will of the cacique. He might take their 
property or their lives, if he chose to do so ; . and 
he ordered all religious ceremonies among them. 
If he had been tyrannical and cruel, an ex- 
cessive lover of property, as the Turkish govern- 
ors, who are equally despotic, are ; then the sub- 
jects of a cacique would have lived in constant 
fear — calling nothing they had their own, and in 
danger of losing their heads, whenever it might 
please the humour of a hard-hearted chief. But 
it appears from their history, that the caciques, 
among these savages, exercised a kind authority 
over them, like that of a father and a friend, and 
that they were made very happy under this patri- 
archal government. 

The anxiety of many of his people, and the 
friendly dispositions of the natives, induced Co- 
lumbus to listen to their request. He thought, if 
they should continue on the island, while he car- 
ried home the report of his discoveries, they miglit 
explore the country, and collect gold, in his ab- 
sence. To make their abode perfectly secure, he 
resolved to construct ?i fortress for their residence. 

A. fortress is a strong edifice, erected in a place 
somewhat difficult to approach from without, and 
made so strong by walls and iron bars, and so de- 
fended by firearriis, that it cannot be entered 
without the consent of those within : the occu- 
pants, at the same time, having the power to in- 
jure or kill those who may come within a certain 
distance of them. The wrought planks, the iroa 
which composed the wreck of the Santa Maria, 
and the cannon which were designed for her de~ 



68 HOSPITALITVr. 

fence, would all serve for the intended Ibrt, and of 
these materirls it was expeditiously built. 

Columbus was much disturbed by the desertion 
of the Pinta. It might be that Pinzon had return- 
ed to Spain, would impute the discovery of the 
new world to himself, and obtain the praises and 
honours which Columbus felt were his due ; or, it 
was possible, that the Pinta was lost, and her crew 
had perished. No vessel now remained to the ad- 
miral but the Nina, and with her alone he must 
return to Europe. This prospect was discoura- 
ging ; for if the Pinta was lost, and the Nina should 
also perish, the new world would still be unknown 
to the old, and the nations might for centuries, 
perhaps for ever, remain in ignorance of the event 
of his expedition. To determine the result, the 
admiral hastened his preparations for a return to 
Spain. 

Again I will make use of the narrative of Mr. 
Irving, in giving you this history. " While the 
fortress was building, the admiral continued to re- 
ceive new proofs of the amity and kindness of 
Guacanagari. Whenever he went on shore to 
superintend the works, he was entertained in the 
most hospitable manner by that chieftain. He 
had the largest house in the place prepared for 
his reception, strewed or carpeted with palm 
leaves, and furnished with low stools of a black 
and shinmg wood, which looked like jet. When 
he received the admiral, it was always in a style 
of princely generosity, hanging around his neck 
jewels of gold, or making him some present of 
similar value. 

" On one occasion the cacique came to meet 



MUTUAL KINDNESS. 



69 



Columbus on landin*T, attended by five tributary 
caciques, each wearing a coronet of gold. They 
conducted him with great deference to the house 
already mentioned, where, seating him in one of 
the chairs, Guacanagari took off his own coronet 
of gold and placed it upon the admiral's head. 
Columbus, in return, took from his neck a collar 
of fine coloured beads, which he put round that of 
the cacique ; he then invested him in a mantle of 
fine cloth, gave him a pair of coloured boots, and 
put on his finger a large silver ring ; upon which 
metal the Indians set a great value, it not being 
found in their island. Such were the acts of ami- 
ty and kindness continually interchanged between 
Columbus and this warm-hearted and o'^ i-handed 
cacique." 

From the information which Columb s obtained 
from the signs of the natives — a very imperfect 
sort of communication, you know — he fancied 
that immense quantities of gold might be found in 
the island. In that case, he, being entitled to one 
eighth of all the treasure that should be acquired, 
would become very rich, and the king and queen 
of Spain would gain wealth enough to send out a 
crusade against the Turks, and take from them 
the holy sepulchre — that is, the tomb of Christ, 
which is at Jerusalem. Wars against Turks, in 
Palestine, had been carried on long before the 
time of Columbus, by Catholic Christians. This 
desire that Christians should hold the tomb of 
Christ is a superstition. Nevertheless, this vene- 
ration for his rehgion in the breast of Columbus, 
was more honourable to him, (for he meant to 
devote his fortune to the enterprise that might be 



70 LA NAVIQAD. 

undertaken against the Turks,) than the more sel- 
fish love of money, which is the low and degrading 
passion of avarice. 

By the industry of the Spaniards, and the assist- 
ance of the Indians, the fortress was soon com- 
pleted, and named by the admiral. La Navidad, 
or The Nativity, in memorial of their having been 
shipwrecked on Christmas day. Columbus se- 
lected thirty-nine individuals, the most able-bo- 
died, and of the most discreet conduct, to form a 
garrison. Among them was a ship carpenter, a 
caulker, a cooper, a tailor, and a gunner, each 
expert in his art. Columbus then exhorted them 
to keep together during his absence, to avoid 
contentiojj, and to treat the savages with the gen- 
tleness and justice due to them. 

On the 4th of January, 1493, Columbus took 
leave of his friends, and set sail for Spain. Gua- 
canagari was deeply moved when he bade the 
admiral farewell ; and the Spaniards who were 
left behind,' when they saw their countrymen de- 
part for their homes, were sorely afflicted ; but 
having once crossed the ocean in safety, they 
looked forward with bright hopes to the day when 
they should again behold them return with aug- 
mented numbers, and good tidings from Spain. 

Two days after the departure from the harbour 
of Nativity, a sailor, who was looking out for rocks 
from the mast-head, espied the Pinta at a distance. 
The news was instantly told, and the crew were 
overjoyed to hear it. In a short time Martin Alon- 
zo Pinzon came up to the admiral's ship. The 
wind at that time was directly ahead, so that both 
vessels were forced to anchor at a harbour of the 



AVARICE OP PINZON» 11 

island of Hayti, called by Columbus Monti Christi, 
Pinzon had deserted Columbus, because he sailed 
under his command, and had no right to any por- 
tion of the riches that might be found, except such 
as the sovereigns of Spain should allot him. He 
was excessively avaricious, and unwilling to de- 
pend upon the justice or munificence of the king. 
He had heard from the Indians of some imaginary 
island abounding in gold, and went in pursuit of 
it, that he might enrich himself, without delay. 
He did not, of course, find the island he sought, 
but he touched at various places, on the coast of 
Hispaniola, east of the harbour where Columbus 
was stationed, remaining the longest time in a 
river forty-five miles from La Navidad. Here he 
collected a considerable quantity of gold, one 
l^alf of which he kept for himself, and the other 
half he distributed among his men as a bribe — 
that is, payment for connivance with him in his 
treacherous conduct, and for secresy, or conceal- 
ment of his dishonesty. 

Pinzon pretended to Columbus, that his vessel 
had been driven away from his company by some 
accident. Columbus understood the deceit and 
sordiness of this man, but he would not quarrel 
with him. He forbore to reproach him, and 
heard his excuses without reply. This instance 
of prudence and forbearance in the admiral is 
worthy of remark and imitation. It is necessary 
to conceal one's contempt and indignation against 
mean and wicked persons, when they are incapa- 
ble of shame, and we are unable to make them do 
right. To preserve peace when contention does 
no good is equally safe and wise. The great ex- 



r^ COAST OF samana. 

ample of Columbus is not only admirable, because 
he was independent, courageous, and persevering, 
but because, he was patient of injuries, and, as the 
Christian religion instructs all men to do, left the 
punishment of his enemies to justice. 

Pinzon, during the period of his desertion, had 
taken four Indian men and two girls, with the in- 
tention to carry them to Spain ; but Columbus 
forced him to restore them to their friends much 
agamst his will. 

If you have a map of the West India islands 
you will see, not far from the eastern extremity of 
Hispaniola, the peninsula of Samana, which ter- 
minates in Cape Samana, and has for its eastern 
boundary the Bay of Samana, which is about three 
leagues in breadth. On the coast of this bay Co- 
lumbus landed, and found a people quite different 
from the subjects of Guacanagari, or any Indians 
he had seen. I will give you Mr. Irving's de- 
scription of them. 

" They were hideously painted, and wore their 
hair long and tied behind, and decorated with the 
feathers of parrots, and other birds of gaudy plu- 
mage. They were armed with bows and arrows, 
war clubs and swords of a formidable kind. 
Their bows were of the length of those used by 
the English archers ; their arrows were of reeds, 
pointed with hard wood, and sometimes tipped 
with bone, or with the tooth of a fish. Their 
swords were of palm wood, as hard and as heavy 
as iron ; they were not sharp, but broad, nearly 
of the thickness of two fingers, and capable, with 
one blow, of cleaving through a helmet to the very 
brains." 



THE CIGUA VANS. 73 

These warlike Indians manifested no ibar of 
the Spaniards, neither did they offer any violence 
to them. Soon after the landing they sold the 
latter two bows and several arrows, and one of 
the natives went on board the admiral's ship. 
This visiter was returned to the shore in a boat^ 
accompanied by several Spaniards, who offered to 
purchase some of the Indian weapons, in order to 
take them to Spain as a curiosity. The Indians 
at first consented to part with some bows, but in 
the midst of the transaction they suspected that 
the Spaniards had a design against them, and im- 
mediately attempted to seize and bind them. The 
Spaniards instantly attacked the Indians, wound- 
ed two, and put the rest to flight. This was " the 
first time that native blood had been shed by the 
white men in the new world." 

*« These were of the tribe of the Ciguayans, a 
bold and hardy race of Indians, inhabiting a moun- 
tainous district, extending five and twenty leagues 
along the coast, and several leagues into the inte- 
rior." The day after the skirmish the admiral 
sent a large party, well armed, to the shore ; but 
the fearless natives came out to meet them, as if 
nothing had happened. 

The cacique who ruled over the neighbouring 
country, was on the shore. He sent off to tlie 
boat a string of beads, made of the hard part of 
shells. The meaning of this offering was not 
then understood by the Europeans, but it was a 
token of peace— the wampum belt, which it is now 
known that all the Indian tribes offer to express 
amicable intentions. The chieftain followed soon 



74 SUPEESTITIONS. 

after, and with only three attendants was conveyed 
to the admiral's vessel. 

Columbus received the cacique with cordiality, 
had the best food set before him, showed him the 
ship, made presents to him and his attendants, and 
sent them back to land highly pleased with their 
entertainment. The residence of the chief was 
among the mountains — too far from the coast to 
permit him to repeat his visit immediately ; but 
he sent the admiral a coronet of gold. From 
four young natives, who came on board his ship, 
Columbus received such accounts of islands lying 
to the east, that he formed a resolution to visit 
them, and prevailed on the young men to remain 
with him as guides. On the 16th of January he 
set sail from the Gulf of Samana. 

At first he took the route pointed out to him by 
the Indians, and had he pursued that course would 
soon have arrived at Porto Rico. The sailors? 
perceiving that his course was not direct for 
Spain, became sad, and averse to proceeding, so 
Columbus altered his plan and steered for Europe. 
The wind was adverse from the 1st, but the 
weather continued calm till the 12th of February, 
when a violent storm commenced, which raged 
with unabated fury for several days. During this 
storm Columbus lost sight of the Pinta. 

I will now give you instances of the supersti- 
tion of the Catholics in that age. You have al- 
ready learned that Columbus, though truly and 
eminently pious, had some of that religious enthu- 
siasm that leads men to acts which are intended 
as services to God, without being such as reason 
approves, or the Gospel enjoins. Vowg, pilgri- 



A STORM. iO 

mages, and penances, are of this sort. Colum- 
bus believed that such observances were accepta- 
ble to God, and that when he is offended at the 
sins of his creatures his anger may be turned away 
by worship offered to dead saints. The following 
are examples of this fact. 

While the storm threatened the destruction of 
the ship and all in it, Columbus thought to obtain 
deliverance by solemn vows. He caused a num- 
ber of beans, equal to the number of persons on 
board, to be put into a cup, on one of which was 
cut the sign of the cross. Each of the crew made 
a vow, that should the lot fall to him, he would 
make a pilgrimage to the shrine of Saiita Maria of 
Guadaloupe, bearing a wax taper of five pounds 
weight. A shrine is a place in which the image 
of some holy person is kept, to which superstitious 
persons repair to offer prayers, or make presents 
to the saint. A journey made to the shrine, from 
reverence to the saint, is a pilgrimage. The first 
lot was drawn by Columbus. Two other lots, 
drawn from the same cup, appointed two other 
pilgrimages. But all this did not still the storm. 

^< The tempest still raging with unabating vio- 
lence, the admiral and all the mariners made a 
vow, that if they were spared to reach the land, 
wherever they first went on shore they would go 
in procession, barefooted and in tlieir shirts, to 
offer up prayers and thanksgiving at his favourite 
shrine. Such has always been the custom with 
mariners of Catholic countries, in times of tem- 
pest and peril. — The heavens, however, seemed 
deaf to their pious vows : the storm grew still 



76 ARRIVAL AT ST. MARy's. 

more wild and frightful, and each man gave him- 
self up for lost." 

During this storm Columbns suffered the most 
torturing anxiety, for his own life, and the lives of 
his companions, and from the fear that the know- 
ledge of his achievement should be lost to Europe, 
and especially that his two sons, left at school at 
Cordova, should be left destitute. It was possi- 
ble that a narrative of his voyage might survive, 
even should he and his crew perish. In order 
to preserve the fact of his discovery, he wrote a 
brief account of his voyage, addressed to Ferdi- 
nand and Isabella, wrapped it in a wax cloth, 
which he enclosed in the centre of a cake of wax, 
and putting the whole into a barrel, threw it into 
the sea. Enclosed with this document was a pro- 
mise of a thousand ducats to whomsoever should 
find and deliver this packet unopened. Soon 
after this precaution had been taken, a streak of 
clear sky appeared in the west, and the weather 
became favourable. 

On the 1 5th, land appeared in view. At this 
moment, " The transports of the crew at once 
more gaining sight of the old world, were almost 
equal to what they had experienced on first be- 
holding the new." There was, at first, some un- 
certainty concerning the land. One thought it 
was Madeira ; another the rock of Cintra, near 
Lisbon ; and more believed it might be Spain. 
It proved to be St. Mary's, the most southern of 
the Azore islands, a possession of the Portuguese. 



rHAl\-KSGIVING,>. 



CHAPTER IX 



The reception of Columbus in Europe must in- 
terest you. I v/ill detain you with him a httle 
among the Portuguese, and then we will proceed 
to the court of Spain. Columbus, as soon as his 
vessel approached the land, sent some of his men 
to learn what was the place where they were, and 
where was the safest harbour for the ship to an- 
chor. The inhabitants, when they beheld the 
caravel, were astonished that she had been able 
to live through the gale. When they heard, more- 
over, that she had brought tidings from a land of 
the far-distant west, they were filled with wonder, 
and persuaded three of the mariners, who had 
come ashore in the boat, to remain. 

The governor of the island, Juan de Castinada, 
sent off fowls, bread, and various kinds of food, to 
the admiral, with a promise to visit him the next 
day. This message was entrusted to three men, 
who remained on board the admiral's ship all 
night. On the following morning Columbus re- 
minded his people of their vow to make a pious 
procession wherever they should first land. Near 
the shore was a small chapel, or hermitage, dedi- 
cated to the virgin, conveniently situated for the 
performance of the vow. When the governor's 
three messengers returned to the island they sent 
a priest to the penitents, to assist them in their so- 
lemn service, and " one half of the crew landing, 
walked in procession, barefooted, and in their 

shirts, to the chapel ; while the admiral awaited 

7* 



"£ AS AEREST. 

their return, to perform the same ceremony witj« 
the remainder of his men." 

" An ungenerous reception, however, awaited 
the poor tempest-tost mariners, on their first re- 
turn to the abode of civilized man, far distant from 
the sympathy and hospitality they had experienced 
among the savages of the new world. Scarcely 
had they begun their prayers and thanksgivings, 
when the whole rabble of the village, horse and 
foot, headed by the governor, surrounded the her- 
mitage, and took them all prisoners." 

Columbus, after a reasonable time had elapsed* 
was alarmed at the prolonged absence of his men. 
He feared the boat might have been lost in return- 
ing. He could not see the chapel from where his 
vessel lay ; and, in order to satisfy himself, steer- 
ed to a place in view of the hermitage. From 
thence he beheld a number of armed men, with the 
governor at their head, enter a boat, and row to- 
wards his vessel. 

Castinada kept at a safe distance ; but Colum- 
bus reproached him for his perfidy, declaring that 
his conduct was a dishonour to his master, the 
king of Portugal, and an insult to the Spanish 
sovereigns ; at the same time showing him the 
commission which he held from the king and 
queen of Spain. Castinada replied contemptu- 
ously, that all he had done was in obedience to 
the authority of his sovereign, John H. of Portu- 
gal. Columbus did not comprehend this declara- 
tion. He did not know why the king of Portugal 
should form a hostile design against him, and sus- 
pected that war had been declared between Spain 



INJUSTICE OF CASTINAUA. 79 

and Portugal. But in a few days the mystery was 
explained. 

After a storm of two days' continuance, which 
drove Columbus from his anchorage at St. Mary*s, 
to the neighbouring island of St. Michael's, he 
was enabled (o return to the former. Two priests 
and a notary then came out to his ship, to bring a 
friendly message from Castinada, who pretended, 
that heretofore he had not believed that Columbus 
sailed under a commission from the Spanish sove- 
reigns. He now declared, if the priests should 
examine the writing which expressed his privi- 
leges, and the protection of the Spanish monarchs, 
and find it to be a true document, he should regard 
the admiral as a servant of the crown of Spain, 
and treat him accordingly. The frank and honest 
nature of Columbus, abhorred the artifice and de- 
ceit of this wily and hypocritical governor, but 
he restrained his indignation, made a respectful 
reply to the priests, and showed them his com- 
mission, with the royal seal affixed to it. 

The next day, the boat and mariners were libe- 
rated. The men, who had been detained at St. 
Mary's, had learned the cause of Castinada's 
conduct. You will remember, that I told you in 
one of the first of these letters, that the Portu- 
guese had made discoveries on the west coast of 
Africa, as far south as Guinea, and that the pope 
had made a gift of the whole continent of Africa 
to the king of Portugal, whenever his captains 
should have navigated its shores. 

It was an express article in the commission of 
Columbus, that his discoveries should not interfere 
in any way with those included in the pope's grant 



OU ARRIVAL IN rORTUGAL. 

to the Portuguese. But when the king of Portu- 
gal heard of the expedition of Columbus, he either 
believed, or pretended to believe, that the latter 
might explore the coast of Africa, and, therefore, 
he sent orders to the commanders of islands, and 
of distant posts, to seize and detain him, wherever 
he might be met with. Castinada's dishonourable 
treatment of the admiral's people, was an act of 
compliance with the king's commands. 

Columbus set sail from St. Mary's on the 24th 
of February. On the 4th of March, he found 
himself off the rock of Cintra. at the mouth of 
the Tagus. A terrible storm, in which the weary 
voyagers were once more in imminent peril, had 
driven them thither for shelter. Finding them- 
selves safe, the crew, on this occasion, returned 
hearty thanks to God, who had mercifully deliver- 
ed them from so many dangers. The ship an- 
chored opposite to the small town of Rastello, the 
inhabitants of which had seen the ship in her ex- 
tremity, watching her with anxiety, and putting up 
prayers for her preservation. These people came 
off to congratulate Columbus upon his escape, 
declaring it was almost a miracle, that he had not 
been lost. 

Cohimbus immediately despatched a courier, 
(an over-land messenger, who is required to be as 
expeditious as possible,) to the king and queen 
of Spain, announcing his discovery. He also 
wrote to the king of Portugal, requesting permis- 
sion to go to Lisbon, as his vicinity to Rastello 
was unsafe. The people of that place were poor, 
and sordid, and would not hesitate to commit any 
violence, by which they could get money. A re- 



REJOICINGS. 81 

port prevailed among them, that the admiral's 
vessel was laden with gold, and Columbus believed 
they would ravage his ship, whenever they could 
find an opportunity. In his letter to the king of 
Portugal, Columbus assured that monarch, that he 
had not, during his voyage, approached the Afri- 
can coast, or m any Avay interfered with the pope's 
grant. 

The next day, Don Alonzo de Acana, the cap- 
tain of a large vessel, stationed near the admi- 
ral's ship, being informed of the extraordinary 
voyage he had made, paid his respects to Colum- 
bus, bringing with him a band of martial music, 
drums, fifes, and trumpets, and paying those ho- 
nours to the discoverer of the new world, which 
one honourable man owes to another. 

There was no city in the world, where maritime 
discovery was thought of so much importance as 
at Lisbon. As soon as the inhabitants heard of 
the arrival of Columbus, and that he had brought 
with him some of the natives of the new world, 
the people of Lisbon flocked in crowds to his ship. 
'* For several days, the Tagus presented a gay 
and moving picture, covered with barges and 
boats of every kind swarming round the caravel. 
From morning till night, the vessel was thronged 
with visiters, among whom were cavaliers of high 
distinction, and various officers of the crown." 

All these listened with admiration to the ac- 
counts given by Columbus and his crew of the 
events of their voyage ; and saw, with delight, the 
curiosities they had brought back to Europe. The 
Indians, in particular, were objects of wonder, 
so different were they from any race of men 



82 HONOURS. 

previously known in Europe. On the 8th of 
March, a cavalier, known by the name of Don 
Martin de Norona, came with a letter fiom king 
John, congratulating Columbus, and inviting him 
to the Portuguese court, then held at Valparaiso, 
about twenty-seven miles from Lisbon. The 
king, at the same time, ordered that every thing 
which the admiral might want for himself and his 
crew, shouM be abundantly furnished for them, 
without any expense to themselves. Columbus 
did not accept the king's invitation with much 
pleasure ; he remembered the treatment he had 
received, by his order, at the island of St. Mary's. 

On the present occasion, however, Columbus, 
with his usual prudence, concealed his distrust of 
the king, and set off for Valparaiso, on the very 
day that he received the invitation. The first 
night, he slept at Sacamben, where preparations 
had been made for his entertainment. The next 
day it rained, and he did not reach Valparaiso until 
night. " His reception by the monarch, was 
worthy of an enlightened prince. He ordered 
him to seat himself in his presence, an honour 
only accorded to persons of royal dignity ; and, 
after many congratulations on the glorious result 
of his enterprise, assured him that every thing in 
his kingdom, that could be of service to his sove- 
reigns or himself, was at his command." 

Columbus, at the king's request, gave an ac- 
count of his voyage and discoveries. The king 
listened to him with apparent pleasure, but with 
secret mortification. He recollected that he had 
been first solicited to aid this splendid enterprise, 
and had refused ; and he now reflected, with regret. 



MALEVOLENT DESIGxiH. 83 

that the honours and riches which would have been 
awarded to him as the patron of Columbus, now 
appertained to the sovereigns of Spain. Soon 
after, he pretended to believe, that the newly dis- 
covered countries belonged to him, because he 
said the papal bull granted to the crown of Por- 
tugal, all lands from Cape Non to India. The 
king's counsellors, perceiving that he was envious 
of the good fortune of Spain, and willing to take 
her new dominion as his own, proposed to him to 
have Columbus assassinated, that he might not 
persist in declaring the rights of the Spanish sove- 
reigns. John, though he loved power and extent 
of dominion, was too good a man to adopt this 
treacherous advice. Others of the king's coun- 
cil, intimated, that he should permit Columbus to 
return to Spain, and, while he was there, fit out 
an expedition, which might be guided by two Por- 
tuguese mariners, who had sailed with Columbus, 
and, with a sufficient military force, take posses- 
sion of the western world. This counsel suited 
the king's ambition, and he fixed upon Don Fran- 
cisca de Almeida, one of the most distinguished 
captains of the age, to command the intended 
expedition. 

Columbus, in the mean time, was treated with 
extraordinary attention, and was escorted back to 
his ship by Don Martin de Norona, and a nume- 
rous train of Portuguese nobles. A mule was 
provided for the admiral, and another for his pilot. 
On his way, Columbus stopped at tlie monastery 
of St. Antonio, at Villa Franca, to visit the queen. 
He found her attended by her favourite ladies, 
and experienced a flattering reception. Her ma- 



84 CONGRATULATION*. 

jesty made him relate the most remarkable cir- 
cumstances of his voyage, and she and her ladies 
listened with the liveliest pleasure to his narrative. 

On his return to Lisbon, he found the weather 
favourable. Putting to sea on the 1 3th of March, 
he arrived in safety at the harbour of Palos, on 
the 16th, having been absent seven months and a 
half. You must recollect, that when Columbus 
left Spain, he took the chief of his crew from the 
little port of Palos, and its vicinity You were 
told, that parents, wives, and children took leave 
of those they loved with prayers and tears. 
During seven months, these anxious friends had 
received no intelligence from the absent objects 
of their aifection, and had often lamented them 
as lost in the fathomless ocean. 

When it was announced in Palos, that one of 
the ships was coming into the harbour, all the 
people of the town burst out into transports of 
joy. The bells were rung, the shops shut, and all 
business was suspended. For a time, all was 
hurry and confusion ; every one pressing forward 
to learn something of some relative or friend. — 
" When Columbus landed, the multitude thronged 
to see and welcome him, and a grand procession 
was formed to the principal church, to return 
thanks to God for so singular a discovery made by 
the people of that place." The king and queen 
were then at Barcelona. Columbus immediately 
informed them of his arrival. He soon after de- 
parted for Seville, to await their orders, and took 
with him six of the Indians. 

I suppose you have not forgotten Martin Alonzo 
Pinzon, and the Pinta. That vessel was thought 



DEATH OF PINZON. 'S5 

to be lost, but she entered the harbour of Palos 
on the evening of the day in which Columbus had 
arrived there. After the Pinta had been separated 
by the storm from the admiral's vessel, she had 
been driven into the Bay of Biscay, and reached 
the port of Bayonne. Finzon thought it probable 
that Columbus had perished, and resolved, in that 
case, to take to himself the honours and rewards 
of his discovery. From Bayonne, Finzon wrote 
to the sovereigns that he was arrived, and sent the 
intelligence of his discovery, as he called it, to 
their majesties. Fie then proceeded to Palos, 
anticipating a triumphant reception in his native 
town. 

On entering the harbour of Palos, Pinzon was 
equally surprised and mortified at sight of the 
admiral's vessel. He was afraid to meet Colum- 
bus, and ashamed to see his townsmen. He fear- 
ed that Columbus would expose his desertion at 
Cuba, and that the selfishness and meanness of 
his conduct would draw upon him the contempt 
of every one. When he saw the admiral's ship, 
Pinzon took to his boat, and landed privately, 
keeping himself out of sight till the admiral's de- 
parture from Palos. The praises bestowed upon 
Columbus, seemed to Pinzon so many reproaches 
to himself; and, when at length he received an 
angry reply to the letter he had written to the so- 
vereigns, his mind sunk under the weight of shame 
and conscious guilt, and in a few days he died. 

The blot of meanness which stains his charac- 
ter, affords a melancholy proof, that men of noble 
quahties may lose all the honours and advantages 
of their virtues, by a single unworthy action. 



86 LETTER OF THE SOVEREIGNS. 

Mr. Irving, who is a writer of the most candid 
and discriminating judgment, regards the charac- 
ter of Pinzon as entitled to respect. '• He was a 
man of great spirit and enterprise, and one of the 
ablest seamen of the age. He had encouraged 
Columbus when he was poor and unknown ; had 
furnished him with money ; had induced men, 
who were unwilling to take a part in his under- 
taking, to engage in it ; and, lastly, he and his 
brother, by his persuasion, had courageously faced 
the dangers of a precarious and hazardous voyage. 
The deep shame and remorse which he felt for his 
fault, proves that his better nature was not cor- 
rupted, and that self-reproach is a sting which a 
generous spirit carmot bear." 

Shortly after he had arrived at Seville, Colum- 
bus received a letter from the king and queen, ex- 
pressing their satisfaction at his success, and re- 
questing him to repair immediately to court, where 
arrangements for a second expedition should be 
made. This letter was addressed to him by the 
title of " Don Christopher Columbus, our adnriral 
of the ocean sea, and viceroy and governor of the 
islands discovered in the Indies." Upon receiv- 
ing this command, Columbus, taking with him 
the six Indians, and the various curiosities and 
productions which he had brought from the new 
world, set out for Barcelona. 

The news of his discovery had been told all 
over Spain ; therefore, as he passed from Seville 
to Barcelona, Columbus was every where received 
with wonder and delight. 

" Wherever he passed, the surrounding country 
poured forth its inhabitants, who lined the road 



TRIUMPH OF COLUMBITS. 



87 



and thronged the villages. In the large towns, 
the street?, windows, and balconies, were filled 
with eager spectators, who rent the air with ac- 
clamations. H is journey was continually impeded 
by the multitude pressing to gain a sight of him, 
and of the Indians, v\;})o were reg;irded with as 
much admiration as if they had been natives of 
another planet." 

Columbus arrived at Barcelona about the mid- 
dle of April As he drew near the place, many 
young noblemen, and a vast crowd of people, 
came forth to meet and Welcome him. His en- 
trance into this noble city has been compared with 
the triumph, or ovation, which the Ronjans de- 
creed to their conquering generals ; but, in my 
mind, the spectacle of Columbus at Barcelona, is 
infinitely more glorious than that of a Roman tri- 
umph. If you have read Plutarch's account of 
the triumph of Paulus iE. tubus, you will remember 
that he rode in a splendid car ; that treasures, for- 
cibly taken from their former possessors, were 
borne before him, and that a sad procession of 
captive princes walked in his tram, drawing tears 
fi'om every compassionate heart. 

Tears and regrets made no part of the triumph 
of ('olumbus ; as yet, his discovery had done no 
evil, had destroyed no happiness He meant to 
confer blessings on his fellow men ; he trusted he 
liad done so ; he believed that he was appointed 
by Providence to render still higher services to 
mankind. As Columbus passed through the 
streets of Barcelona, to the royal residence, the 
Indians were paraded first in the procession, 
^f- painted according to their savage fashion, and 



luUKxtivil orns^tueuts of j;v»UI ; *rtt'r llu se \vt>rt> 
Ihuih* vjiiiou.'i kiiulji v>t' live pinrx^?^, U^ivthor wilh 
situtUni lvr\tji s^iul Hxuiui^lji ol unknown sjhvu\<. v^nd 
mrr'' pK^ut8, supjHVitHi to he of ^>ixvunK< m^vlmes; 
while jii\^t 05HV WHS taken to make a eonspxenous 
d)«(Utty *^' tH»r\«\ets, brwit^K^ts, a ml olh<?r ikHHUpa* 

" Arter thesr tUHowtnl i\»K»inhu!i,on ho»"?t<;h«ek. 
^imuiMiUni hy a IxriUmut es^vale^uK^ ot' SjMnish 
cluv«lr\\ The stvtvts xvert> uhnt»«»t nu|K\sj4«hlr, 
fipoin the iHuuitle^ nuiUituUe ; the windows ami 
b«U\vnje?i wert^ en^w^tnl with the t»ir ; and tht> 
very nx^^ wert> eovertni with sjHVtntorss.*' '!'o 
rei'eive hi«\ with sxiitahle ponxp anvl ihstinctiou. 
the s5<>vemij!is had ortiert\i their thrt»ne to bo 
pUet^i m puhiie» under a neh eanopy of hrtn^ade 
ot' ij\>Kl, u» a vast and splendul s«liH>n. Uer«> tho 
kiuij and queen, with Prince Juan beside them, 
and attendt\f by the chief nobdity of tlH> kinjrthMn. 
awaited the aduuraPs anival 

At buiifth iVhunbus entertnl the hall. His 
coitHuandniii pej-son, and his eovuWeuauee, rxMidei^ 
t><! Te«er?»Me by ijray hairs, i»avt> hiui the appear- 
ance* of a Konian senator. As l\>hunbus ap- 
|W>«ehed, the sovertMirnsii r\v«e tv> i>H'eiYe him, ami 
he sUH>jH\i to kiss theii hands ; but they raistnl 
him fmui the attitude of K»whness, and oixlerod 
him to seat himst^lf — which was t5«tren>«Hl an act 
of jjrt^at coi>destH>nsion. You, who live in a nv 
puWican cvnu\try. which does not rtn^uiir any ci« 
ti«:ej\ to stand in the pn\<ence of *h niaijistratis 
however diiinituxi. except on particvdar occasiioi>s% 
t\o m^ umierstand. jHM-haps. iliat to b«» stNittnt itt 




r'a<r<:' i!() 



HOPES AND EXPECTATIONS. 89 

the presence of the Spanish sovereigns, was only 
the privilege of a great favourite. 

Columbus related his history, and displayed his 
curiosities to their majesties. The Indians, and 
the specimens of gold, were the most ^nteres ing 
objects exhibited; and Columbus asserted that 
the world he had discovered opened inexhaustible 
sources of weahh, and offered multitudes ot hu- 
man beings, who might be converted to the Catho- 

'"^ Columbus was heard with profound attention. 
When he had finished, the sovereigns fell upon 
their knees, and with eyes filled with tears, and 
hands raised to heaven, poured forth thanks and 
praises to God, for so great a providence. I he 
whole assembly followed their example ; and, at 
that solemn moment, an anthem chanted by he 
musicians in the royal service, rose up m the 
midst, " bearing up, as it were, the feelings and 
thoughts of the auditors to heaven. Such was 
the pious manner in which the Spamsh court cele- 
brated the discovery of C^olumbus. 

The iov occasioned by this discovery m Spam 
was paTticipated by all Europe. Every one re- 
ioiced in it as opening a wide scope for naviga- 
tion, and unbounded stores of weahh. Learned 
men so rejoiced in the benefits it promised to sci- 
ence, and the prospect of human happn^ess which 
it held out, that one of them, Peter Martyr, de- 
clared, the thought of it was " like an accession 
of wedthto amiser.^' Notwithstanding tins ex- 
uhation, no one was yet aware of the f^^'^^'^^f 
a western continent. Only a few of the Baharna 
islands, parts of Cuba and Hispaniola, had been 
8* 



^^ GRAND CAKDINAL. 



,r!rl f A^ "^^^ "■^S"'*'''' «^ '"'6 eastern ex- 
tremity of Asm, and the other islands were be- 
lieved to be in the Indian ocean. 

While Columbus remained at Barcelona, the 
sovereigns continued to bestow on him every mark 

I'd'" TT,i l'"^ '^'^ I-""' particular^ lis- 
tened w,ih delight to his conversation The 

iTnrlT""'' «<='^='=*''n»"y on horseback, with 
Pimce Juan on one side, and Columbus on the 

whaTi toT "'^■^•'^'-•^ "'.^' yo" should recollect 
What [ told you concerning coats of arms and 
mottoes, ityou would understand the expr™4n of 
respect offered by the sovereigns to &olu X," 
They had already ennobled Columbus, that i had 

office of admiral, during his life, and to his heS 
and successors for ever. Thev adde-l t„ ti- j" 
nity the gift of the royal arms7f S, wl 'h wS 
the figure of a castle and a lion. The caltle 

c^Air'r' "" '''""^ fo-dation and ! 
cuiityofthe regMl power; and the lion intimatintr 

he ability to defend that power, should it be a"? 
sailed. In addition to the castleand the on Co 

ound"e7"r'^^'^"""' ^'"' ' ^""P °f -land": sur 

hi dscov^f Tb''-'^ '"t" -P--n'atio„ of 
lus aiscovei y. These arms bore the motto : 

"For Castile nnd Leon 
Colambus found a new world." 

for his piety and learning as for his high staTon 



BREAKING THE EGG. 91 

He invited Columbus to a banquet, where he 
gave him the highest seat at table, and had him 
served with marked respect. At this banquet is 
said to have occurred a circumstance, often re- 
lated ; but it must be new to you, and you shall 
have it in ihe wohIs of Mr. Irving'. 

" A shallow courtier present, impatient of the 
honours paid to Columbus, and meanly jealous of 
him as a foreigner, abrui)tly asked him, whether 
he thought that, in case he had not discovered the 
Indies, there were not other men in Spain, who 
would have been capable of the enterprise ? To 
this (Columbus made no immediate reply, but, 
taking an egg, invited the company to make it 
Stand on one end. Every one attempted it, but 
sn vain ; whereupon he struck it upon the table 
so as to break the end, and left it standing on the 
broken part ; illustrating, in this simfde manner, 
that when he had once shown the way to the new 
world, nothing was easier than to follow it." 

For a time Columbus was " honoured by the 
f^overeigns, courted by the great, and idolized by 
the people ;" yet he was the same individual who 
had been neglected and despised by many of his 
present followers. He knew that his own worth 
was always the same, and except for the excellent 
queen, Isabella, and the worthy friends of his 
humble state, Diego de Deza, and the prior of La 
Rabidad, he felt little esteem for the multitude of 
his admirers. 



92 THE rOPE. 



CHAPTER X. 

Jesus Christ, when he was upon earth said, " my 
kingdom is not of this world." Six centuries after 
the death of C!uist„the bishops of Rome declared 
that they ruled upon earth as repre?entatives of 
Christ's authority. Christ said, " who made me 
a judge and a divider?" and refused to determine 
a dispute which was referred to him — nevertheless 
his pretended representatives made themselves 
judges of princes, and dividers of the whole earth. 
Catholic princes agreed together that they ought 
to take for their own, all territories and other pro- 
perty belonging to ignorant and heathen nations, 
and then teach them to be Christians. This doc- 
trine made Ferdinand and Isabella believe that 
the countries discovered by Columbus, and the 
people dwelling in them were subject to them. 
But to make other nations agree to this, and to 
prevent them from taking possession of the coun- 
tries, the sovereigns of Spain thought proper to 
obtain a declaration from the pope that these 
countries belonged to Spain only, and no other 
Christian power had any right to them. 

In order to establish their right to the countries 
which had been, or which might be discovered by 
Columbus, Ferdinand and Isabella despatched 
ambassadors to the court of Rome, that is, to the 
pope, Alexander VI, who was a native of Spain. 
The ambassador reminded the pope that the dis- 
coveries of Columbus did not interfere with those 
of Portugal, and he supplicated his holiness to 



FONSECA. do 

issue a bull to secure the possession of the coun- 
tries in question to the Spanish crown. The 
pope, in compliance with his petition, decreed 
that ail discoveries made by navigators in the ser-: 
vice of Spain, lyin^' west of a boundary line, one 
hundred leagues west of the Azores, shoidd belong 
to Spain ; and all future discoveries to the east of 
this line, to Portugal. 

The sovereigns were anxious to prosecute the 
discoveries which had been begun, and to effect 
this, ordered a second expedition under Columbus 
to be fitted out. These preparations and the dis- 
bursement of all money to be employed in the 
western voyages that mi^ht be undertaken, were 
entrustcid to Juan llodriguesde Fonseca, archdea- 
con of Seville. This man, though an ecclesiastic, 
was employed in secular offices by the king and 
queen and possessed great power during thirty 
years. It must be lamented that Fonseca was not 
good and vvise as well as powerful. Possessing 
the pul)lic money, and having the right to employ 
it as he thought best, he contrived to * heap 
wrongs and sorrows upon the most illustrious of 
the early discoverer's." On what Oi.casions you 
will learn, as you advance in the history of Co- 
lumbus. 

According to the regulations made by the so- 
vereigns, no person was to be permitted to go to 
the newly discovered lands without a license, that 
is, a written permission frtmi the sovereigns, from 
Columbus, or from Fonseca, under a heavy penalty 
— that is, without being punished, by paying a fine 
or in some other way. Columbus and Fonseca 
were allowed to buv anv vessel that thev should 



94 FREE GOVERIV^ME^'TS. 

want ; and, if the owner of such vessel should not 
be willing to sell it, they had permission to take it 
by force. They might also exact the services of 
any captain, pilot, or sailor they should choose. 

I mention this that you may understand how 
much better it is for you that you are born under 
2ifree goternmejit than if you were the subjects of 
an arbitrary one. In our country the government 
never can take a man's properly without his con- 
sent. We are obliged to pay taxes for the support 
of civil order, and the defence of the country ; and 
to render personal services in case of a war ; but 
persons are not compelled among us to give their 
labour or their property to any enterprises similar 
to those of Columbus. 

" When the second expedition of Columbus was 
fitting out, great care was taken to furnish instruc- 
tors to convert the Indians to the Catholic faith. 
Twelve priests were appointed for the purpose. 
Among these the most distmguished was Bernard 
Boyle, a Benedictine monk, — a man more cunning 
than pious, who afterward caused much trouble to 
Columbus. Queen Isabella enjoined Columbus 
to punish all fc'paniards who should injure any of 
her Indian subjects, and especially ordered that 
they should be instructed in her religion. As a 
beginning to (he good work of initiating pagans in 
Chiistianity the six Indians whom Columbus 
had brought to Spain were baptized with great 
ceremony. 

By the exertions of Fonseca, and his assistants 
in office, Columbus upon his second expedition, 
procured a fleet of seventeen ships, and. was ac- 
Gompanied by fifteen hundred persons. Some were 



OJEDA. 95 

officers and mariners, and others were adventurers, 
who went to the new world from the want of 
something to do, or to find gold and precious 
stonesy that might afterward be sold in Europe 
and make them rich without further trouble. 
Among these adventurers was a yonng cavalier of 
good family of the name of Don Alonzo de Ojeda. 
Mr. Irving describes him thus, " He was of a 
small size, but vigorous make, well proportioned, 
dark complexioned, of handsome animated coun- 
tenance, and incredible strength and agihty, ac- 
complished in all manly and warlike exercises, and 
an admirable horseman, — fierce in fight, quick in 
brawl, but ready to forgive, and prone to forget an 
injury ; he was for a long time the idol of the rasli 
and roving youth who engaged in the early expedi- 
tions to the new world, and has been made the 
hero of many wonderful tales." 

An anecdote of the hardihood of Ojeda which 
may amuse you, is taken kom a Spanish historian. 
" Queen Isabella being in the tower of the princi- 
pal church of Seville, Ojeda, to entertain her ma- 
jesty, and to give proofs of his courage and agility, 
mounted on a great beam which projected in the 
air, twenty feet from the tower, at such an im- 
mense height from the ground that the people be- 
low looked like dwarfs, and it was enough to make 
one's flesh creep to look down. Along the beam 
he walked briskly, and with as much confidence as 
though he had been pacing his chamber. When 
arrived at the end he stood on one kg, lifting the 
other in the air ; then turning nimbly round he 
returned in the same way to the tower, unaffected 
by the giddy height, from whence the least false 



96 SECOND VOYAGE OF COLUMBUS. 

step would have precipitated him, and dashed liim 
to pieces. He afterward stood with one foot on 
the beam, and placing the other against the wall 
of the building, threw an orange to the summit of 
the tower. 

You probably recollect that when Columbus 
was in Portugal, King John, determined to send 
out a secret expedition to lake possession of the 
territories discovered by him. I must tell you that 
this design never was executed. A treaty of 
amity, that is, a mutual agreement between the two 
kings to preserve peace and good will between 
their respective nations, already subsisted, and 
Ferdinand kept a good lookout upon the king of 
Portugal, so that the latter could not have sent out 
his ships without the knowledge of the former ; 
and king John did not choose to commence a war, 
as he must have done, had he persevered in sup- 
planting the Spanish claim to the new world. 

On tlie 26th of September, at the daw^n of day, 
the fleet of Columbus sailed from the Bay of Cadiz. 
On his first departure the whole town of Palos was 
in tears. Columbus was regarded as a desperate 
adventurer, and his followers as men devoted to 
death. On the present occasion " eveiy tongue 
praised, and blessed him, and his followers were 
looked upon as favoured mortals, destined to gol- 
den regions and happy climes, where nothing but 
wealth, and wonders and delights awaited them." 
Columbus reached the Canary islands on the 6th 
of October and there tcok in calves, goats, sheep, 
hogs and domestic fowls, together with seeds of 
oransres, lemons, melons and orchard Iruits. Such 



THE CAKIBBEES. 97 

of these animals and fruits as now remain in the 
West Indies originated from this stock. 

The voyage was favourable, and on the 2d of 
November a lofty island was descried, " at the 
sight of which there were shouts of joy throughout 
the fleet." Columbus gave the island the name 
of Dominica, from its having been discovered on 
a Sunday. Domini, you know, is the Latin for 
Lord. Sunday is called the Lord's day ; so you 
perceive why the island was called Dominica. 
Other islands, in its vicinity, were discovered soon 
after Look on the map now. You will see the 
Caribbees, extending from Porto Rico to the Gulf 
of Paria, in latitude 10°. 

The crew were assembled to return thanks to 
God for their preservation, and this happy disco- 
very. " Such was the pious manner in which Co- 
lumbus celebrated all his discoveries, and which, 
in fact, was generally observed by the Spanish and 
Portuguese voyajyers. It certainly presents a so- 
lemn and beautiml picture to the mind ; this con- 
gregation of ships, uniting, as it were, on a Sab- 
bath jubilee, on the tranquil bosom of the deep, 
and sending up swelling anthems of praise to 
heaven, for the fair land that was rising to their 
view." 

The second island at which Columbus touched, 
he called Marigalante ; the third he named Gua- 
daloupe. On the first two he saw no inhabitants. 
At Guadaloupe, some of the adventurers landed 
on the 4th of November ; but the inhabitants fled, 
except a few children. These the Spaniards ca- 
ressed, and made them presents of hawk's bells 
and other trifles, to win the sfood will of their pa- 



98 CAWSIBALS. 

rents. The Indians were always very fond of 
these little bells. They used to attach them to 
their persons, and in their dances their tinkling 
sound would throw them into ecstasies. The 
houses at Guadaloupe were square, and not cir- 
cular, like those of Hispaniola. The next day 
Columbus proceeded to examine the coast, and 
wherever they entered the houses perceived hu- 
man bones, and other fragments, which showed 
that the people of the island were cannibals. 

I would gladly believe that no such practice as 
cannibalism ever prevailed ; but Mr. Irving thinks 
that the reports of voyagers but too certainly es- 
tablish the rnelancholy fact of its existence. The 
persons whom Columbus sent ashore to explore 
the island returned, bringing with them a boy 
and several women. Some of these were na- 
tives, and others captives taken in war. From 
the report of the captives, Columbus was per- 
suaded that the islanders were Caribs. He was 
told that they made incursions updn other islands, 
at the distance of three hundred and fifty leagues. 
" Their arms were bows and arrows, pointed 
with the bones of fishes, or shells of tortoises, and 
poisoned with the juice of a certain herb. They 
made descents upon the islands, ravaged the vil- 
lages, carried oflf the youngest and handsomest of 
the women, whom they retained as servants or 
companions, and made prisoners of the men, to be 
killed and eaten." 

After hearing these accounts, the admiral was 
distressed at finding that Diego Marque, one of 
his captains, and eight nien with him, were miss- 
ing. They had gone on shore early in the morn- 



DIEGO MARQUE. 99 

ing, without permission, and had not since been 
seen or heard of. The next day they continued 
absent, and ail search for them was in vain. 
Trumpets were sounded and guns discharged, by 
those who went in quest of them, but no reply 
was made, and it was generally feared that they 
had been lost in the woods, and had fallen a prey 
to the savages. The natives of the island fled be- 
fore the Spaniards, but some captive Indians, 
taking advantage of the circumstance, came to 
the Spaniards for protection From these the 
admiral learnt that the king of the island, with ten 
canoes and three hundred warriors, had gone on 
a predatory cruise — gone to take female prisoners 
and whatever else they could find, that belonged 
to the people who should be so unfortunate as to 
fall into their hands. The Carib women, when 
left at home, in the absence of their husbands, 
were almost as warlike as they, and able to defend 
their property in case of an attack. 

Columbus was anxious to proceed to Hispanio- 
la, and learn the fate of his garrison at La Navi- 
dad ; but his concern for Marque and his com- 
panions, determined him to pursue the search for 
them. Alonzo de Ojeda volunteered to explore 
the woods, and the admiral accepted of his offer. 
Ojeda was not more successful than the rest ; but 
he was delighted with the beauty of the island. 
Columbus now gave up the stragglers for lost, 
and was just about to sail, when Marque and his 
sailors appeared in sight. When they gave an 
account of themselves, they related, that having 
gone into the forest, without any path to guide 
them, they had lost their way ; and, instead of re- 



100 SA:^JTA CRUZ. 

turning to the ships, they had wandered fartlier 
and farther from them. They had clambered 
rocks, waded rivers, and struggled through briers 
and thickets. The foliage of the trees prevented 
them from seeing the stars, and they expected to 
perish with hunger in the wilderness, when they 
suddenly came in view of the sea, and by keeping 
along the shore came in sight of the ships. 

Columbus was rejoiced to recover the men ; 
but he thought it his duty to punish them for this 
irregularity. They had left the ship without leave, 
and it was necessary, for naval discipline, that the 
most uniform obedience should be observed. The 
captain was put into confinement for a short time, 
and the men were put on a shorter allowance of 
food. 

On the 10th of November, Columbus steered to 
the northwest. You may trace his passage from 
Guadaloupe to Porto Rico, and see the islands he 
must have passed. He landed at Santa Cruz, to 
which he gave name. Here five and twenty men 
were sent ashore. This island was also inhabited 
by Caribs. As the boat, containing the Spaniards, 
was returning to the ship, it encountered a canoe 
with a few Indians, two of whom were females. 
These came suddenly in sight of the ships While 
they were gazing on them with inexpressible as- 
tonishment, the Spaniards stole close upon them, 
without being perceived ; but as soon as they 
were discovered the natives darted away. The 
Spaniards pursued them more rapidly than they 
could escape, and contrived to get between the 
canoe and the land. When the Indians saw 



CAR IBS. 101 

tiiemselves intercepted, they boldly faced the 
Spaniards, and discharged their arrows. 

The women fought as well as the men. One of 
them appeared to assume some authority, and to 
be regarded as a queen. To avoid the arrows, 
the Spaniards ran violently upon the canoe, and 
overturned it. The Indians, however, did not 
sink. They fought in the water, though the skill 
of the Spaniards at length prevailed, and they 
were made prisoners. These prisoners were af- 
terward taken to Spain, and used to make peo- 
ple afraid of them, by the " frowning brow," and 
" air of defiance," which they exhibited. 

The Caribs were a more intelligent and enter- 
prising, as well as a more warHke people, than 
the other natives of the West Indies. " As soon 
as they could walk, their Amazonian mothers put 
into their hands the bow and arrow, and prepared 
them to take an early part in the hardy enterprises 
of their fathers. Their distant roaming by sea had 
made them conversant and intelligent. The na- 
tives of the other islands only knew how to divide 
time by day and night, by the sun and moon, 
whereas these had acquired some knowledge of 
the stars, by which to calculate times and seasons." 

On the 22d of November, the admiral's fleet 
arrived at the eastern extremity of Hispaniola. 
Here, a Biscayan sailor, who had died of the 
wound of an arrow, wijich had been aimed at him 
by one of the Caribs, in the late skirmish, was 
buried. During the funeral ceremony, several of 
the natives came off to his ship, with a message 
to the admiral, from a cacique of the neighbour- 
ing country, inviting him to land, and promising 
9* 



102 ].A NA'VIDAD. 

him gold. Columbus declined these offers, be- 
cause he was anxious to learn the condition of his 
garrison at La Navidad. 

On the 27th, Columbus arrived in the evening 
off the harbour of La Navidad. It was too dark 
to distinguish any object. The admiral ordered 
two cannon to be fired. " The report echoed 
along the shore, but there was no reply from the 
fort. Every eye was now directed to catch the 
gleam of some signal light : every ear listened to 
hear some friendly shout ; but there was neither 
light, nor shout, nor any other sign of light : All 
was darkness and death-like silence." 

About midnight, a canoe approached the vessel. 
The Indians would not venture on board until 
they saw the admiral ; they then entered his ship 
without hesitation. One of them was a cousin of 
the Cacique Guacanagari ; he brought a present 
of two masks, ornamented with gold. Columbus 
immediately inquired about the Spaniards, who 
had remained on the island. There was only one 
Indian on board the vessel who served for an in- 
terpreter, but he was a native of one of the Ba- 
hamas, and not well acquainted with the language 
of Hayti. 

All that Columbus could learn concerning La 
Navidad, was, that several of the Spaniards had 
died of sickness ; some had fallen in quarrels 
which had occurred among themselves, and others 
had removed to a distant part of the island. That 
Guacanagari had been attacked by Caonabo, the 
cacique of the mountains of Cibao, who had 
wounded him, and burnt his village. Guacana- 
gari lay ill of his wound near Hayti, and was una- 



« O^^JECTURES. lOo 

ble to welcome the return of the admiral perso- 
nally. The Indians were entertained, and went 
ashore before morning, promising to return the 
next day, and bring along with them the chief 
Guacanagari. 

The next day passed away without any intelli- 
gence of the Indians. During the residence of 
Columbus at this place, the whole vicinity was 
animated by the Indians enjoying themselves in 
their canoes upon the water, collected in groups 
under their shady trees, or swimming off to the 
vessel. Now, there were no signs of life ; no 
smoke rising among the groves, nor a single 
dusky form gliding in and out of sight. 

To explain this appearance of desertion, and 
to relieve himself from the state of suspense in 
regard to this strange change, Columbus sent a 
boat to the shore. On landing, his men hastened 
to the place where the fortress had been erected. 

On this spot was only a ruin. War and fire 
had been there. A few wretched remains of its 
occupants, were spread over the ground ; tattered 
garments, broken chests, and spoiled provisions. 
Here and there some Indians were seen skulking 
among the trees, but they shunned all communi- 
cation with the white men. The latter soon re- 
turned to the admiral, with the melancholy story 
of what they had seen. 

The following morning, Columbus went on 
shore, further to investigate the mysterious fate of 
Arana and his men. For some time, he only saw 
the same sad objects which his men had found. 
On further examination, the bodies of eleven men, 
known to be Europeans by their clothing, were dis- 



104 MISCONDUCT OF THE SPANIARDS. 

covered, overgrown by the grass. At length, 
some of the Indians appeared, and timidly ap- 
proached the admiral. They were soon induced, 
by small presents, to speak as freely as they could, 
and succeeded in making intelligible, that what the 
Indians, who first visited Columbus, had told, was 
partly true. The facts, as was afterward ascer- 
tained, were these. 

Don Diego de Arana, the commander, and one 
or two others of the garrison, were respectable, 
prudent men ; the rest were low and disorderly. 
Several of thdm were sailors, who conducted 
themselves properly enough while under com- 
mand on board a ship, but were utterly lawless 
ashore, and despised the authority of Arana. No 
sooner was the admiral out of sight, than they 
forgot his instructions. Few as they were, and 
surrounded by multitudes of the natives, these 
foolish men abused the confidence of the savages 
in manifold ways — forcibly taking from them their 
wives and daughters, their ornaments, and other 
property. 

Fierce quarrels arose among themselves, and 
the injunction of the admiral, that they would re- 
main together, was disregarded, like the rest of 
his commands. Arana vainly attempted to govern 
these worthless men. Pedro Gutierrez, and Ro- 
drigo de Escobedo, whom Columbus had left to 
assist Arana in his government, soon attempted 
to take the chief control, but the people refused 
to obey them, and they withdrew from the fortress, 
with nine other misguided persons. Having heard 
wonderful stories of the mines of Cibao, and the 



C AON ABO. 105 

golden sands of its rivers, they all set off for that 
district. 

Cibao was in the province of Maquana, in the 
interior of the island. Maquana was ruled by 
Caonabo, called by the Spaniards, the lord of the 
golden house. Caonabo was a Carib.* He had 
come among these simple and peaceable people, 
and they had submitted themselves to his control 
so completely, that he was become the most pow- 
erful of their caciques ; and the subjects of the 
other caciques stood in fear of him, because he 
was a Carib. As soon as Caonabo heard of the 
white men, and their firearms, and their wonder- 
ful powers, he thought if they should attempt to 
take part with the islanders, that he should have 
no chance to conquer and govern them. 

When Caonabo heard that Columbus had left 
the island, and that the white men who remained 
were always quarrelling, and were detested by 
the natives, he hoped that they would be no more 
in the way of his plans. No sooner did Gutier- 
rez and Escobedo enter his dominions, than this 
mountain chief put them to death. Immediately 
after the death of the Spaniards, Caonabo concert- 
ed measures with the chief of Marien, a district in 
his vicinity, to attack the fortress. But ten men 
remained in it with Arana ; the rest lived in 
houses without, and they had so little fear of the 
natives that they kept no guard. 

In the dead of the night, when they were all 
asleep in careless security, Caonabo and his war- 
riors, who had been concealed in the neighbour- 
hood without being lliscovered, rushed, with hor- 
rid yells, upon the uijsus])ecling Spaniards, and 



106 GUACANAGKAX. 

took possession of the fortress. They next set fire 
to the houses, in which the rest of the white men 
were. Eight of the men fled to the sea-side, and 
rushing into the waves were drowned ; the others 
were killed by the Indians. Guacanagari fought 
faithfully t5 defend the Spaniards ; but he was 
wounded in the hand by Caonabo, and his village 
burnt to the ground. This is a sad conclusion 
to a chapter. I wish I could promise you some- 
thing more pleasant for the next ; but the history 
of -outhern America is one of tlie most sad I am 
acquainted with. Still the character of Colum- 
bus, so grand and elevated among men, is interest- 
ing enough to requite one for all the painful feel- 
ings excited by the cruel, selfish, ignorant Spa- 
niards, with whom he was associated. 



CHAPTER XI. 

Soon after Columbus had received this melan- 
choly information, he paid a visit to Guacanagari. 
Many of the Spaniards did not believe what the 
Indians had told concerning the destruction of the 
fortress ; they suspected that Guacanagari had fall- 
en upon their countrymen and murdered them in 
some unguarded moment ; and that now, being in 
fear of Columbus, and the men under his control, 
he dared not acknowledge the truth, but threw 
the blame of his own treachery upon the mountain 
Indians. 



TIMIDITY OF THE HAYTIANS. 107 

Columbus visited the cacique with a numerous 
train of his principal officers, all richly dressed in 
g^littering armour. Guacanagari was reclining 
upon a hamac of cotton net. He received Colum- 
bus in an affectionate manijer, and shed many 
tears, as he related the misfortunes which had 
befallen the garrison, at the same time exhibiting 
the wounds he and several of his subjects had re- 
ceived in defending the Spaniards. After finish- 
ing this sad detail, an exchange of presents be- 
tween the cacique atid Columbus took place. 
Articles of gold on the part of Guacanagari, were 
given for beads, hawk's bells, and things of like 
value. The Indian being highly satisfied with 
what he received. 

When Guacanagari showed his wound it served 
to confirm the suspicions of the Spaniards. There 
was no external hurt. His leg had been bruised 
by a stone. However, he still complained of pain 
in the part, and moved with difficulty. Whatever 
was the fact, Guacanagari was able to return the 
visit of Columbus that very evening. If he had 
been astonished at the power and grandeur of the 
white men at sight of two small vessels, and their 
equipments, what must he have thought of their 
riches and prowess, when he beheld the fleet and 
the multitude of men attached to it ? The chief 
ciwcumstance which exalted his ideas of the irre- 
sistible daring and force of the Spaniards, was the 
display of their captives, the Caribs, whom they 
held in chains. So great was the dread of the 
timid Haytians of these terrible savages, that 
they dared not even encounter their fierce looks. 
Thouirh the (./aribs wero in chains, tho Haytians 



108 CATALINA. 

turned their eyes involuntarily away from their 
fearful and menacing frowns. 

The cacique was struck with admiration at the 
sight of the European animals, particularly the 
horses, which were.on board the admiral's ship — 
their strength, docility, and noble appearance, so 
different from the powers of any animal known to 
him, served to fix his belief that the managers and 
masters of these extraordinary creatures were 
more than men. On board of the admiral's ship 
were ten women, who hsfd been delivered from 
the Caribs ; but who were now, in fact, prisoners 
of the Spaniards. They were chiefly natives of 
Boriquen, or Porto Rico. The languages of 
the different islands were somewhat different ; but 
the islanders were generally able to make them- 
selves mutually understood. Among the Bori- 
quen prisoners was a beautiful female, whom the 
Spaniards called Catalina. The cacique observed 
this woman, pitied, and perhaps loved her, for 
he spoke to her with a tone of gentleness and 
compassion. 

During the whole of the cacique's visit the ad- 
miral treated him with respect ; but others on 
board the ship looked upon him with dishke and 
suspicion. Looks of kindness, or of ill-will, are 
understood by every body, child or man, savage or 
civilized : we perceive in a moment, by anodier's 
countenance, if he doubts our goodness, and bates 
our presence. Guacanagari had not been told 
that the Spaniards said he was a dishonest man ; 
but he saw that they thought so, and he wished to 
be away from them. He was accustomed, for- 
merly, to be received among" them with confidence 



FLIGHT OP CATALINA. 109 

and iiiendship. Now the ceremony was respect- 
ful, but their manner towards him was not ifTec- 
tionate, so he was uncomfortable among them, and 
begged to get ashore. 

The next day the brother of Guacanagari came 
on board the admiral's ship. He pretended that 
he had come to exchange gold for some European 
trinkets, but, in reality, he went to concert a plan 
with Catalina for her deliverance. The cacique 
determined upon this, when he saw her the day 
before. He thought he should like her for a wife. 
The ships lay three miles from the shore, and the 
sea was rough. Catalina and her companions 
had no way to escape but by swimming. These 
island women were used to buffeting the waves. 
At midnight, when the crew were asleep, they let 
themselves down from the ship, and trusting to 
•their strength, committed themselves to the sea. 
They were heard by the watch. The boat was 
instantly manned, and they were pursued to the 
shore. Four of the women were taken, but Ca- 
talina, and the rest of her companions, escaped to 
the woods. 

The next day Columbus sent to Guacanagari to 
demand the Boriquen women, or, if they were not 
with him, to request that he would cause search to 
be made for them, and return them to his vessel. 
The messengers of Columbus could find neither 
the cacique nor the fugitives. Having lost re- 
spect for the Spaniards on account of the bad con- 
duct of the garrison of La Navidad, he wished to 
be out of their power ; and immediately after 
leaving the admiral's ship, he and all his house- 
hold took rofuije in the mountains. 
10 



110 CITY OF ISABELLA. 

Columbus intended to lay the foundation of a 
city in the island of Hispaniok ; but the situation 
of La Navidad was found to be unhealthy, and 
he fixed upon another place, ten miles from the 
harbour of Monte Christi. The animals on board 
the ships had suffered from confinement, and the 
men had become uneasy for want of occupation. 
When they were finally disembarked there was 
'*■ a general joy at escaping from the loathsome 
prison of the ships, and once more treading the 
firm green earth, and breathing the sweetness of 
the fields." A plan for the new city was laid out, 
and the men speedily went to work. A churcli, 
a public store-house, and a house of stone, for the 
admiral, were soon constructed. Dwellings for 
the colonists were made of wood, plaister, and 
reeds. 

But hard labour, exposure to the open air, and 
salt provisions, did not suit the constitution of 
these Spaniards. They could not relish the food 
eaten by the natives, and could not grow ricii at 
once. They were not intelligent and virtuous 
men. They soon became sickly, quarrelsome, 
and unhappy. The destruction of the fortress was 
a great disappointment to Columbus. lie had 
hoped that the men would have collected gold, 
which he might send to Spain, and now he had 
nothing to send in the ships. He feared that the 
Spanish sovereigns would not believe his promises, 
that his discovery would afibrd great riches to 
Spain. It was necessary that the ships should re- 
ttirn, and Columbus resolved, if possible, to find 
something which should keep up the reputation 
of ?Jis new territory. 



KOYAL VEGA. Ill 

All tlio Indians declared lliere were ^rold mine> 
in the interior, and that they lay l)«t lliiee or four 
days' journey from that place. Columbus, in order 
to ascertain this fact, sent an expedition to the 
mountains. Don Alonzo de Ojeda was chosen 
for this enterprise, and he engatred in it the more 
eagerly because it was danfrerous : he was to pe- 
netrate into the dominions of the mountain ca- 
cique, Caonabo. For two days the march was 
tln-ougli a country forsaken by its inhabitants, for 
they had heard of the Spaniards, and were afraid 
of them. 

On the second night the Spaniards slept upon 
the summit of a high mountain, which they had as- 
cended. The next day they looked from this 
height on a delightful plain Avhich lay beneath 
them. When Columbus visited this spot, some 
time afterward, he gave to the plain the name of 
Vega Real, or Royal Plain. The prospect was 
beautiful. The country exhibited the finest fea- 
ture of any landscape — signs of human life and 
enjoyment. Houses, poor compared with ours, 
but suitable to that climate and people ; trees for 
shelter and shade ; and fields under the rude cul- 
ture of their owners. Ojeda and his companions 
boldly descended into the villages, and were kindly 
received. 

Tiiey had expected to find some of the cities 
described by Marco Polo, for they had not coast- 
ed the whole island, and still presumed that it was 
part of the continent of Asia. But these people 
liad no cities, and were naked and uncivilized, 
like the other islanders. Caonabo did not ap- 
pear. Gold, the favourite object of their wrshofs, 



112 i:ndian slaves. 

was found among the mountains, and in the sands 
of the livers, and Ojeda, having seen the country, 
returned with tidings of its riches. Garvalan, an- 
other cavalier, was sent on a different route, and 
came back to Columbus with specimens of gold. 
The admiral was encouraged by these reports, 
and thought this a proper time to send twelve of 
the sliif)s to Spain, with an account of the colony. 

He had about one thousand persons on the 
island, and these stood m need of provisions, of 
medicine, of clothing, and of arms. Columbus, 
when the ships sailed, wrote to their majesties for 
these supplies. In tiiese ships he sent the men, 
women, and children, taken in the Caribbee 
islands. He trusted, that when these people 
should be instructed in the knowledge of the 
Catholic fiilh, and sliould learn the habits of ci- 
vilized man, they would return to their own 
islands, and teach what they had been taught 
in Spain. Columbus also suggested a plan, that 
the colonists should seize the Caribs, and send 
them to Spain for slaves, where they would be 
taught the Christian religion ; and that the mer- 
chants should give for them horses and other ani- 
mals. By this means, he thought the peaceable 
islanders would be delivered from their enemies, 
and the Caribs would learn the way to heaven. 
The sovereigns did not approve this scheme. 
They thought it best to convert the Caribs, if 
possible, without making slaves of them. 

The new city was called by Columbus for his 
royal patroness, Isabella. On the 6th of Februa- 
ry, 1494, high mass was celebrated in the new 
church. Father Boyle, and the other priests, per- 



TKEACIIEIIY OF DIAZ AXD CEDO. 1 KS 

formed the ceremony. Cokimbus ut that time 
was ill, but he meditated an expedition to the 
mountains of Cibao. In this he was painfully in- 
terrupted. Two of the Spaniards, Bernal Dia"z 
de Piza and Fermi n Cedo, together with numbers 
more of their comrades, became discontented. 
When they saw the departure of the ships, the 
thouglits of Spain made them hate the new world, 
and they ardently ionjred to return. Bernal Diaz, 
therefore, taking advantage of the indisposition of 
Columbus, agreed with the other disaffected per- 
sons, to seize upon the ships and go back tp 
Spain. 

If they had done this without some good reason, 
they would have been severely punished on their 
arrival in Spain, so they invented a story to justi- 
fy themselves. It was, that Hispaniola did not 
contain mines of gold, and that the specimen's 
which Columbus had sent home, had long been in 
possession of the natives ; that the country wa's 
unhealthy ; and that Columbus was a tyrannical 
governor. This was intended to be told when 
they should return to Spain. But these m.utineers 
did not succeed. They were detected before 
they could get away, and punished as the admiral 
thought proper. This punishment, which wa-s 
due to the treachery of }>ernal Diaz and Fermin 
Cedo, made the Spaniards hate Columbus, and 
afflict him by their persecutions as long as he 
lived. 

When Columbus had put an end to the mutiny, 

he left his new city of Isabella, and his ships, in 

charge of his brother, Don Diego, and departed 

for the gold mines of Cibao. In order to wort 

10* 



114 THE ISLAND EXPLORED. 

these mines, he took with him workmen and im- 
plements. On the 12th of March, Columbus set 
out with four hundred men, well armed and 
equipped, with shining helmets, swords, and 
crossbows, and followed by a train of Indians. 
«< They sallied forth from the city in battle array, 
with banners flying, and sound of trumpet and 
drum," and as many as could procure horses 
were mounted on those animals. 

There was nothing but an Indian foot path, 
.winding through rocks and precipices, or through 
brakes and thickets, to guide them on their way, 
and they were forced to construct a road as they 
proceeded. This road was the first made in the 
new world. The little army of Columbus toiled 
up the mountahi over which Ojeda had preceded 
him, and, descending it, entered upon the Vega 
Real. " When the Indians beheld this shining 
band of warriors, ghttering in steel, emerging 
from the mountains, with prancing steeds snd 
flaunting banners, and heard, for the first time, 
their rocks and forests echoing to the din of drum 
and trumpet, they might well have been taken lor 
something supernatural.'' 

It is said that the natives supposed the horse 
and his rider to be one animal, and at the sight of 
them fled in great fear, and took refugfe in their 
houses. As a rlefence against the formidable stran- 
gers, they hastily put up a frame of reeds before 
their doors. Columbus commanded his men not 
to break through these slight fortifications. The 
fears of the Indians were soon removed, and they 
freely gave whatever they had to the Spaniards. 
After a march of fifteen miles across the plain, 



.MOUNTAINS OF CIBAO. 115 

they came to the banks of a beautiful river, called 
by the natives the Yagui, but Columbus called it 
the river of Reeds. On the evening of the se- 
cond day they arrived at the golden mountains of 
Cibao, the summits of which overlook the vega. 
This plain, in the midst of the island of Ilispanio- 
la, is two hundred and forty miles in length, and 
from sixty to ninety in length. 

The natives recollected the visit of Ojeda, and 
were acquainted with the avidity of the Spaniards 
for gold. The streams which watered this region, 
brought down particles of gold dust, and the na- 
tives collected and offered them to the Spaniards. 
One old man brought two pieces of pure gold, of 
an ounce weight each. Columbus presumed, that 
if these mountains should be opened, they would 
be found to contain immense quantities of this 
precious metal. He thought that it was not ex- 
pedient to search farther for gold until this expe- 
riment was made ; so he determined to erect a 
fort at a convenient place, to leave men in it to 
work the mines, and to have the country explored 
by another party. 

The fortress was placed on an eminence ; at 
the foot of which lay one of those verdant plains, 
called by the natives, savannahs. The fortress 
was called St. Thomas. Columbus left in it a 
garrison of lifty-six men, commanded by one Pe- 
dro Margarite. He then set out for Isabella, 
which was distant about fifty- five miles. While 
the admiral remained among the mountains, he 
sent a young cavalier, .luan de Luxan, to explore 
the country. From him, Columbus learned much 
of the character and customs of the natives. 1 



5 16 EELIGION OF THE ]S*ATIVEg. 

will briefly inform you of some facts, in respect to 
these people, which he observed. 

No savage nation, totally destitute of religion, 
has ever been discovered by civilized men. The 
Indians of these islands believed in the Supreme 
Deity ; one God, the father and maker of all. 
They never addressed prayers directly to God, but 
used little idols, called zemes, as messengers, or 
mediators. They believed that these offered their 
worship to God. Each cacique had his own par- 
ticular zemi, whom he would pretend to consult, 
as the Greeks used to consult oracles, when he 
M'ished to know whether it were well to begin, or 
lo refrain from any undertaking. This idol was 
of an ugly shape, and made of clay or cotton ; 
something like a doll, or rag baby. The cacique's 
zemi had a house consecrated, or made holy for 
liis abode, like the temples of the ancients. 

Every family, and every individual has its zemi. 
You have read of the Lares and Penates, the 
liousehold gods of the Romans. In this particu- 
lar, their religion, and that of the Indians, were 
alike. The figure of a zemi was often carved 
upon their furniture, or houses, and sometimes 
carried about the person as a charm, or protection 
from injury. You may have read of talismans 
and amulets, and have heard of relics and luclry 
bones. Talismans and amulets are certain 
words written, or figures engraved upon some- 
thing : or they are stones kept by a person to 
prevent sickness, or danger. The Mahomedans 
use them. Relics are something which once be- 
longed to a holy person, now dead. The Roman. 
Catholict? now use these, as the Indians did their 



DEITIES AND miESTS. 117 

zemes. — An American gentleman once told me, 
that, being forced to travel through a long, unin- 
habited tract in Mexico, a Spanish lady gave him 
an alligator's tooth, which some priest had blessed, 
as a protection from evil spirits. You see that 
the superstitions of ignorant people of all nations, 
how far apart soever, are alike. 

The Indians believed, that every tree, and river, 
had its zemi, just as the Greeks behoved that the 
Dryads and Satyrs lived in their woods, and 
Naiads and Nereids in the waters. The Indians 
supposed, that their zemes saved them from being 
hurt in their battles ; that they gave them rich 
harvests, and good luck, or success, in hunting 
and fishing. They also believed, that when they 
were oflended, they caused violent storms, and 
brought upon them any affliction. 

The natives had priests, called butios, who 
sometimes drank the infusion of a certain herb, 
and were intoxicated by it, as the priestess of 
Apollo among the Greeks used to bewilder, or 
make herself delirious ; and the butios, hke the 
Pythia, would pretend to foretell future events. 
The butios were physicians as well as priests, 
and gave medicines with many ceremonies, pre- 
tending to exorcise, or turn out the malady. These 
butios often assisted the caciques to deceive their 
people, by speaking through the mouth of the 
zemes, and ordering the men to follow their chief 
to battle, by promising them what they desired, or 
threatening to punish them if they refused obe- 
dience to the cacique. 

You may read, in the mythology, some accounts 
of the worship of Pan and of Bacchus amonff the 



118 EELIGIOUS FESTIVAL. 

Greeks. The Indians had a religious ceremony 
somewhat hke those of the Greeks. This cere- 
mony is thus described by Mr. Irving. " The ca- 
cique proclaimed a day, when a kind oF festi-val 
was to be held in honour of his zemes. Ilis 
subjects assembled from all parts, and formed a 
solemn procession ; the married men and women 
decorated with their most precious ornaments ; 
the young females entirely naked. The cacique, 
or the principal personage, marched at the head, 
beating a kind of drum. 

" In this way, they proceeded to the consecrated 
house, or temple, in which were set up the images 
of the zemes. Arrived at the door, the cacique 
seated himself on the outside, continuing to beat 
his drum, while the procession entered ; the fe- 
males carrying baskets of cakes, ornamented with 
flowers, and singing as they advanced. Their of- 
ferings were received by the butios with loud 
cries, or rather bowlings. They broke the cakes 
after they had offered to the zemes, and distri- 
buted the morsels to heads of faunlies, who pre- 
served them carefully throughout the year, as pre- 
ventives of all adverse accidents. This done, at a 
signal, the females danced, singing songs in honour 
of the zemes, or in praise of the heroic actions 
of their ancient caciques. The whole ceremony 
iinishcd by invoking the zemes to watch over and 
protect the nation." 

The Haytian Indians had strange notions con- 
cerning the beginning of this world. There is a 
large cavern about twenty miles from Cape Fran- 
cois. It is about one hundred and fifty feet in 
dppth. and receives light from a hole in the roof. 



I'AULE OF CltEATlOX. 119 

The Indians believed that from this hole the sun 
and moon came forth at creation. This cavern 
was held in great veneration by the natives. Its 
entrance was adorned with green branches ; and 
when there was want of rain lliey made pilgri- 
mages and processions to it, with songs and dances? 
bearing offeriniis of fruits and flowers 

You will be amused when I tell you two of 
their fables. One concerning the origin of man- 
kind, and the other concerning the deluge. They 
believed that besides the cavern of the sun and 
moon, there was another, from which men first 
proceeded. This cavern had two openings, a 
larger and a smaller According to their belief 
large men came from the large aperture, and small 
men from the small one. The men were for a 
long time without women, but one day as they were 
near a small lake the men saw some strange ani- 
mals on the branches of a tree. The men tried 
to catch these animals, but found them so slippery 
that they glided like eels from their hands. Af- 
terward they employed men who had very rough 
hands to catch these slippery creatures. Four of 
them were taken. The animals proved to be 
women ; and from these were descended all 
mankind. 

Their fable of the deluge is quite as curious. 
" They said there once lived in the island a mighty 
cacique, whose o.nly son conspiring against him, 
he slew him. He afterward collected and cleaned 
his bones, and preserved them in a gourd as was 
the custom of the natives with the relics of their 
friends. On a subsequent day the cacique and 
his wife opened the gourd to contemplate the 



120 TREATMENT OP THE DEAD. 

bones of their son, when, to their astonishment, 
several fish, great and small, leaped out. Upon 
this the caciqne closed the gourd, and placed it 
on the top of his house, boasting that he had the 
sea shut up within it, and could have fish when- 
ever he pleased. Four brothers, however, born at 
the same birth, and curious intcrmeddlers, hearing 
of this gourd, came, during the absence of the ca- 
cique, to peep into it. In their carelessness they 
sufiered it to fall to the ground, when it was 
dashed to pieces, and thence issued forth a mighty 
flood, with dolphins, and sharks, and great tum- 
bling whales ; and the water spread until it over- 
flowed the earth, and formed the ocean, leaving 
only the tops of the mountains uncovered, and 
these formed the islands." 

When a cacique was sick, they would, if he were 
likely to die, strangle him out of respect. Com- 
mon people were left alone to die in solitude. 
Sometimes the body of a cacique was dried and 
preserved. The bodies of the common people 
were sometimes buried, and sometimes burnt. 
They had an idea of a happy place where tlu^ 
souls of dead men, joined the souls of others who 
had died before them. The Indian paradise re- 
sembled that of Mahomet. Shady bowers, deli- 
cious fruits, and beautiful females form the 
happiness of departed spirits, according to the 
notions both of Mahomedans and Indians. 

The Indian dances were representations of their 
history — of their hunting, and their battles. The 
dances harmonized with the metre of certain 
songs which rehearsed the deeds of their ances- 
tors. These ballads were called arevtos. They 



J 



MEL.OCHOLY CHANGES. 121 

had also songs of love and of grief. This is a 
short sketch of the religion and the customs of 
these islanders : of a people now vanished from 
the earth. Where they enjoyed the luxuries of 
nature, a delicious climate, and a productive soil, 
in ease and repose, the white man has planted his 
foot, and raised his habitation, and the toil and 
bondage of the slave has succeeded to the indo- 
lence and liberty of the savage. 

Still industry and civilization are better than 
sloth, ignorance and barbarism. If you do not 
understand mc now, you will, when you are older, 
and have learned to think, and are become ac- 
quainted with the history of many nations. 

On the 29th of March 1494, Columbus arrived 
at Isabella, and foun^l that all the seeds committed 
to the ground, had begun to vegetate ; and many 
plants, sugar-cane, melons, and wheat, and several 
other species had grown rapidly. But the provi- 
sions brought from Europe were nearly consumed, 
and the Spaniards daily became more sickly and 
more dissatisfied. Very soon after his return, 
Columbus heard that the men at St. Thomas had 
quarrelled with the natives. This garrison, as well 
as that of La Navidad, as soon as the authority of 
Cohmibus wns withdrawn, began to insult and op- 
press the islanders, who in their turn, quarrelled 
with the intruders. 

The climate proved to be so unfavourable to 
the Spaniards that many of them died at Isabella, 
and many more were too ill to work. All the la- 
bour of cooking, grinding wheat, (for they had no 
mills) cultivating the soil, and tending the sick, 
fell upon those who were well. To prevent fa- 
1 ! 



122 INLAND BXPEBlTI0x\. 

mine before supplies could be obtained from 
Spain, the whole colony was put on a limited al- 
lowance of food, and every man, of high or low 
rank, was required to labour for the benefit of the 
whole. 

Men of old families, who had not been accus- 
tomed to labour, and who had come to the new 
world only to get rich, were very angry at Colum- 
bus that he made them, as well as the rest, work 
hard, and fare sparingly Friar Boyle was moro 
offended than any body. These proud Spaniards, 
unaccustomed to labour, felt it to be painful as 
well as disgraceful, and from this time they began' 
to persecute Columbus, who they thought imposed 
these toils and hardships upon them. 

In order to turn the minds of his followers from 
their distresses and discontents at Isabella, Co- 
lumbus proposed to detach considerable numbers 
from that place. SoniC for a new voyage of dis- 
covery which he would command in his own per- 
son, and others in an expedition to explore the 
island. This expedition was to be commanded by 
Pedro Margarite, the commander of fort St. 
Thomas. That fort was to bo entrusted to Ojeda. 
On the 9th of April, Ojeda, who was to head the 
exploring party till they should reach the fort, set 
out on his adventure at the head of four hundred 
men — officers and soldiers. Sixteen of this num- 
ber were mounted on horses, and the rest pro- 
ceeded on foot, all armed, and in military array. 

Columbus laid the strictest orders on these men 
to o})serve certain regulations in their conduct. 
The principal directions were to refrain from all 
insult or deception towards the Indifiiis, to trcUt 



miaCOKBVCT OF MARGAKITE. 123 

them with kindness and justice, and to purchase 
from them such provisions as they should need. 
They were never to take any article of property 
forcibly or secretly from tlie natives ; and, if tlie 
latter should steal any thing belonging to the 
Spaniards, they were to be punished for their dis- 
honesty. The natives do not appear to have been 
ignorant of the rights of property — that is, every 
fhan's privilege to keep to himself, or to do what 
he chooses with his own. 

None of these wise and benevolent regulations 
were adhered to by Margarite and the conse- 
quences were, that the Spaniards were disgraced, 
the Indians destroyed, and an unjust censure 
brought upon the generous and honourable Co- 
lumbus. Ojeda,on his arrival at the vega, learned 
that three Spaniards coming from the fortress of 
St. Thomas, had been robbed by five Indians, and 
that when complaint for this outrage had been 
made to the cacique he had justified the thieves, 
and shared their booty. Ojeda upon hearing this, 
sought for the thieves, and having caught one, or- 
dered his ears to be cut oft' in the public square 
of one of the villages ; he then sent the cacique with 
his son and nephew in chains to ('olumbus. 

The prisoners were accompanied to Isabella by 
another cacique, who went, hoping to prevail on 
Columbus to forgive them. Columbus thought ii 
best to make these men an example, so he seemed 
to disregard the entreaties of the cacique, and or- 
dered the prisoners to be taken to the public 
square with tlieir hands tied behind them, and 
there to have their heads struck off At the 
place of execution the friendly cacique once mors 



124 SAVAGES OF CUBA. 

wept, and prayed, and earnestly supplicated Co- 
lumbus to spare the offenders, promising ut the 
same time that the Indians should never again rob 
the Spaniards. Columbus yielded to these en- 
treaties, and pardoned his captives. 

At the moment of their disi.ission, a horseman 
arrived from St. Thomas^ who, in passinjT the vil- 
lage of the captive cacique, had found five Spa- 
niards detamed by the Indians. The Indians had 
always manifested great terror at the sight of a 
horse ; and this single horseman so mtnnidated 
those who held the Spaniards in captivity, that 
they all, to the number of four hundred, fled at 
his approach. Perceiving their timidity the horse- 
man pursued, wounded several of them with 
his lance, and brought off his countrymen in 
triumph. 

These instances served to convince Columbus 
that tlie Indians would never be formidable ene- 
mies, but might easily be governed. After the 
departure of Ojeda, Columbus organized a plan 
for the government of the island during his absence. 
'J'he chief magistrate was Don Diego Columbus. 
Father Boyle, and three others, were appointed to 
be his counsellors or advisers. 

Columbus sailed with a small squadron from 
Isabella on the 24th April, with the mtention of 
exploring the south coast of Cuba. He proceeded 
for some dtiys along this shore, and wherever he 
landed, found natives of the same character as 
those he had known at other parts of the island. 
At first timid, but easily attracted towards white 
men, and, as soon as thfey had ceased to fear, 
confiding, generous, and hospitable. Gold, as 



.1AJJUTCA. I2S 

risual, was demandecl by the Spaniards, and the 
Indians pointed always to a south country as the 
land which af]i:>rded it. This intimation induced 
Columbus to aban<lon Cuba for a season. On the 
3d of May, he turned directly south in quest of 
the promised land. 

Columbus had not sailed flir before he came in 
^ight of the beautiful island of Jamaica. The 
natives crowded to the shore at his approach, and 
vseventy canoes, filled with natives gaily painted, 
and armed with lances of pointed wood- came 
towards the admiral's ship. This armament were 
neither curious nor courteous. They assumed a 
menacing attitude, and uttered yells of defiance ; 
but Columbus knew how to conciliate them by 
mild manners, and such little presents as had 
never failed to gain the affection of the savages. 
They accepted the gift of beads and other baubles, 
and suffered the admiral to continue his course. 

The next day, the admiral anchored at a place 
now called St. Ann's Bay. It was found neces- 
sary to repair one of the vessels, which leaked, and 
here (>olumbus prepared to land, but the Indians 
endeavoured to prevent him. These Indians, 
unlike those of Cuba and Hayti, exhibited the 
warlike character of the Caribs, " hurling their 
javelins at the ships, and making the shores resound 
with their yells and war-whoops " The admiral, 
though he was most kindly disposed towards the 
savages persevered in his design to land, to pro- 
cure fresh water, and to repair his vessel. In 
order to accomplish this, it was necessary to con- 
vince the Indians that the force of the white men 
was altogether superior to theirs. He caused 
11*- 



126 ST. ANK S BAY. 

armed men to row in the boats directly tu the 
shore, and to pour a volley of arrows upon the 
natives — thus several Indians were wounded and 
the rest fled in confusion. The Spaniards were 
not content with this, but when they had set foot 
on land set dogs upon the runaways. This was 
the first time that dogs were employed to hunt 
men ; afterward, the blood-hound^ a most fero- 
cious and sangumary animal, was frequently em- 
ployed to hunt the unhappy Indians ; and even to 
the present lime, fugitive negroes in the West 
Indies are sought out for their hard masters by 
this cruel expedient. 

When Columbus landed, he took possession of the 
island, and gave it the Spanish name of Santiago. 
This name has been dropped^ and the original 
Indian namO;, Jamaica, restored. The day fol- 
lowing the landing, the natives returned to the 
shore, and brought presents from their chieftains 
to the admiral. The products of Jamaica resem- 
bled those of the other islands, but were of a 
superior quality. 

During three days, the ships were detained at 
St. Ann's Bay, then called by Columbus, Santa 
Gloria, from the very splendid scenery which sur- 
rounded it. The natives appeared to be more 
ingenious, as well as more warlike, than those of 
Cuba and Hayti. " Their canoes were better 
constructed ; being ornamented with carving and 
painting at the bow and stern. Many were of 
great size, though formed from the trunks of single 
trees ; often from a species of the mahogany. 
Columbus measured one, which was ninety-six 
feet Ions, and ei^ht broad, hollowed out of one of 



INDIAN ABVENTURER. 127 

those magnificent trees, which rise like verdant 
towers amidst the rich forests of the tropics. 
Every cacique prided himself on possessing a large 
canoe of the kind, which he seemed to regard as 
his skip of state.'''' This ship of state signifies a 
ship proper to be used by a man of high rank upon 
some particularly impvU'tant occasion. 

Finding no gold, and getting no intelligence 
where any could be found at Jamaica, Columbus 
thought It best to return to the coast of Cuba. 
He wished to learn whether or not that island was 
part of a continent. An interesting fact m re- 
spect to a youiig Indian, is mentioned by the bi- 
ographer of Columbus, at this period of his 
history. 

When the admiral was about to depart from 
Jamaica, a young Indian came ofi' to the ship, and 
entreated that he might be permitted to go with 
the Spaniards to their country. He was followed 
by his relatives and friends, who appeared to love 
him dearly, and to be grieved and distressed that 
he should desire to leave them. They suppli- 
cated him to remain at home, and he seemed 
to feel unwilling to afHict them. He listened at 
one moment with concern to their persuasions, 
and the next looked longingly at the wonderful 
strangers. 

Curiosity, and the love of adventure, are strong 
passions in young minds. The desire of behold- 
ing another portion of the globe — the land of the 
white men, was stronger in this youth than the 
love of his country and his friends. Still he could 
not bear to afflict his sisters and others, who shed 
tears because he persevered in his resolution to 



128 SOUTH SHOBE OP CUBA.. 

quit them ; so he tore himself away, and hid liini- 
self in a part of the ship where they could not fol- 
low him. 

Columbus loved the enterprising and confiding 
spirit of this young Indian. He resembled the ad- 
miral in his desire to increase his knowledge of 
mankind, and perhaps in his disposition to do 
good. Whether he acquired any useful know- 
ledge in Spain, whether he was happy in Europe, 
or whether he returned to his friends is not 
told by the Spanish historians ; but his imperfect 
history is interesting, as an exhibition of Indian 
character. 

On the lyth of May, Columbus arrived once 
more at the coast of Cuba, and went on shore. 
Here he inquired of the natives concerning the 
extent of their country, and whether it was part of 
a continent. They replied, that it was an island, 
but of vast size, for no one had seen the end of it. 
This vague information did not satisfy the admiral, 
and he resolved to pursue his examination of the 
coast till he should ascertain whether it really was 
the eastern limit of Asia. 

But as the squadron advanced in a westerly di- 
rection, the navigation became difficult, from the 
multitude of small islands lying near each other, 
immediately south of this part of Cuba. These 
little islands are sometimes called keys, from the 
Spanish word, cayos — in English, rocks. To a 
cluster of the least rocky and more fertile of these 
islands, Columbus gave the name of the Queen's 
Garden. 

Mr. Irving describes the part of the voyage of 
Columbus next ensuing, with singular beauty. 



HArniNESS OF THE PEOPLE. 129 

-' Columbus pursued his voyage with a prosperous 
breeze along the supposed continent of x\sia. He 
was now nearly opposite to that part of the southern 
side of Cuba, where for nearly thirty-five leagues 
the navigation is unembarrassed by banks and 
islands. To his left was the broad and open sea — 
to his right extended the richly woode 1 province 
of Ornalay ; the verdant coast watered by innu- 
merable streams, and studded with Indian villages. 

" 'IMie appearance of the ships spread wonder 
and joy along the seaboard. The natives hailed 
with acclamations the arrival on their shores of 
these wonderful bemgs, whose fame had circu- 
lated tnore or less throughout the island, and who 
brought with them the blessings of the skies. 
They came off swimming, or in their canoes, to 
offer the fruits and productions of the land, and 
regarded the white men almost with adoration. 
After the usual evening shower, when the breeze 
blew from the shore, and brought off the sweetness 
of the land, it bore with it also the distant songs 
of the natives and the sound of their rude music, 
as they were probably celebrating, with their na- 
tional chants and dances, the arrival of the white 
men." 

At the present time, this part of Cuba exhibits 
a melancholy scene. It is the same which may 
be found on the map extending westward of the 
city of '^^rinidad, along the gulf of Xagua. The 
Spaniards, who afterward colonised Cuba ; and 
their descendants, who have since inhabited and 
governed that island have taken the lands, and by 
their unjust and cruel treatment of the savages, 
have put an end to their existence as a people ; 



130 HUMBOLDT. 

and Ihis portion of their territory, once so ani- 
mated and happy, is become a desert and a solita- 
ry place. 

Humboldt, a very enlightened and persevering 
traveller, who, about twenty years ago, explored 
these shores, speaks thus of them : '' I passed a 
great part of the night upon the deck. What de- 
serted coasts I not a light to announce the cabin 
of a fisherman. From Batabano to Trinidad there 
does not exist a village. Yet in the time of Co- 
lumbus this land was inhabited even along the 
margin of the sea. When pits are dug in the 
soil, or the torrents plough open the surface of the 
earth, there are often found hatchets of stone, and 
vessels of copper — relics of the ancient inhabi- 
tants of the island." 

Columbus persisted in his westerly course for 
some days, and encountered various difficulties 
from keys, sand banks, and narrow channels, or 
passages among islands where the ships had not 
room to turn. " At one time they came to where 
the sea was almost covered with tortoises ; at an- 
other- flights of cormorants and wood pigeons 
darkened the sun ; and one day the whole air was 
filled with gaudy clouds of butterflies, until dis- 
pelled by the evening shower." 

The condition of the ships, the poorness of 
their provisions, and the fatigues of navigation, 
dispirited the crew, and induced them to remon- 
strate against proceeding, and Columbus yielded 
to their entreaties. On the 13th of June, he 
turned his course to the southeast, at a place from 
which, in three days' sailing to the westward, he 
would have reached the extremitv of Cuba. Thus 



CELEBRATION 01^ MXSb\ ISl 

Ije would have proved that Cuba was an island ; but 
he never ascertained that, and died in the belief 
that it was part of Asia. 

No memorable incident occurred in the return 
of Columbus till the 7th of July. On that day 
the squadron anchored in a convenient harbour, 
in the mouth of a fine river, to allow the crews a 
season of rest and refreshment. The cacique of 
the neighbouring country immediately welcomed 
the arrival of the strangers, and, as was usual to 
the savages, offered them abundance of fruits, cas- 
sava bread, fish, and pigeons. 

You will remember that Christians, at that time, 
considered the territories of all nations, uninstruct- 
ed in Christianity, as their lawful property ; and 
that Catholics, when they took possession of 
heathen countries, erected a cross and performed 
an act of worship, to express that they were 
Christians, and were about to establish the reli- 
gion of Christ in that part of the world. 

Columbus having landed, ordered a large cross 
of wood to be erected on the bank of the river. 
This ceremony was performed on a Sunday morn- 
ing, with great solemnity, being attended with the 
celebration of mass. I have mentioned mass to 
you before, now I will explain it. The mass is a 
religious service of the Catholic church Ths 
priests, surrounded by worshippers, offers prayers 
and praises to Almighty God ; and, at the same 
time, a substance called incense, which emits a 
sweet odour, is burnt ; and tapers of wax are also 
kept burning. The burning of incense was part 
of the Jewish worship, as you read in the Old 
T\atameiit. The <i.in-ccii^c of prais'e" is a figiira- 



lijg A VKNIiRAllIK OLD WAN. 

tivo nxproaaion, sifjnifyinjr ihnt praiso from a h'iu- 
fMVG lioart HH(*c'iHla In llio lliroiio of (iod, and Ih 
acxMiptiid l)y iiiiii, in IIk; Miiinr! tniinncr ns tlto odour 
of inc(!nHf! iiscs iovv.irds llic vi^^il)l(! lioavcna. L<;t 
UH now ifiliirn to <yoltinil)iis. 

Ah pnipjinitioriM wcmo niakinjjf for Um; rnnsH, tho 
naliv(!s porcoivod l)y llniir coinilL'iiancfis and rnan- 
iKM', thai tlio Spaniards wcro in a roii^iouH framo 
of mind, and wero about tu attend a suitablo Rcr- 
vifo. ll[)on this orcunion, tlio caciquo, and a vc- 
iKTohlo Indian, fourHc.orcj yoar.s of aye, and thn ca- 
<'i(pio'.s principal fivoiuito, met Colund)US. Thifl 
ol(l man preH(tnted to him a strmrr of bcada, and 
.soin(! fnio fruit as an <!xpri'Hsion of oood will ; 
an<l, aOcr the admiral Ind a(-<-ep((;d his <.<ifts, tho 
an;('d man took one of Ihe adnnraPs hands, and iho 
ea(-i(pM^ th<; oth(-r, and all threft |)ro(-reded in (hat 
all<'('tioMat(! m;imier to iIk; <^i'ove ulxtrc the mass 
was to ho celebrated. TlKiy wer(! lollowed by a 
multitudt; of tho natives, wli<» r( ^ard<!d the (usro- 
mony whieh (;ii.su(Ml, with silent attention and 
riive'ienee. 

VVhon iho service wa.s ended, tlie old mnji ap- 
proaeluid (!<?hmd)UM, and ad«lr(!«Hed to liiin a short 
disi'ourse', whieh th(» l-ueayan interpreter rr^peated 
in Spanish, and whieh is thus reeordcid by Mr. 
[rvinj^r " 'I'his whi<-h thou hast been doirifjf." said 
the- v<'n«irabh' man, "is w.'ll ; for it appears to bo 
thy manner of ^'ivin^' thaidis to (Jod. I am told, 
that thou hast lalcdy eome 'o th<'S(! lands with a 
mif^hty fori-o, and hast sidxiued many eounti ien, 
spr«!adin<i; jrn-at f«ar amonj^Mlu; p«'0|)le; but 1)0 
not, thenilbre, vain ^'lorious. Know,tliat. aeeord- 
in*!; to our belief, tho souls of mr-n havr; two join'- 



ULOllIES OF SPAIN. iSo 

iiuys to perform, after they have departed from 
the body ; one to a place dismal and foul, and co- 
vered witli darkness, prepared for tliose who have 
been unjust to tlieir fellow-men ; the otiicr i)iea- 
sant and full of delijrlit, for such as have promo- 
ted peace on earth. li' then, thou art mortal, 
and dost exj)ect to die, and dost believe that each 
shall be rewarded according to his deeds, beware 
that thou wroncjfully hurt no man, nor do harm to 
tiiose who do no harm to thee." 

This beautiful oration, touched the admiral's 
heart. He replied, he had conceived that no re- 
ligious faith of the kind, which the Indian had ex- 
pressed, existed among his countrymen, and he 
rejoiced to hear such doctrine iVom one of them. 
lie continued, that he had been sent by his sove- 
reigns, to teach them the true religion ; and to 
protect them against tlnjir ci uel enemies, tiie Ca- 
ribs. That, tberefon;, ail peaceable and good 
men might look upon him as a protector and 
friend. 

The old man appeared to be overjoyed at the 
admiral's words, and the intcrpr(;ter surprised 
him by the assurance, that (k)lumbus was not a 
king, but a subject ; and he was still more asto- 
nished by the account, which the interpreter pro- 
ceeded to give, of his visit to Spain. "The 
splendid cities ; the vast churches; the troops of 
horsemen ; the great animals of various ifinds ; 
the pom[)ous festivals and tournaments of the 
court; the glittering armies ; and, above all, the 
buU-fights." 

The Indians all listened in amazement, but the 
old man. was, above all, interested, lie was, liim- 



134 MGRESSlO-\. 

self, a great traveller, according to his own notions 
of the world. He had visited Hispaniola, Jamaica, 
and the remote parts of Cuba, and now, old os 
he was, he would have gladly embarked with Co- 
lumbus to behold Europe, but his wife and 
children prevailed with him to abandon such an 
tindertaking. 



In the whole of the history of Columbus, m\ 
dear child ren^ there is not, according to my feel- 
ings, a more interesting passage than that I have 
just related to you. Think about it ; employ 
your imaginations to conceive the shady trees that 
overshadowed the worshippers of God, where no 
building was erected to his honour. Imagine 
Christians offering prayers to the father and pre- 
server of all men, and the poor, untaught savages, 
beholding the solemnity, with awe and devotion 
of heart. Then represent to yourselves, the aged 
man, acknowledging and inculcating that great 
truth of God's government — retributive justice, — 
which is, punishment to the wicked, and grace, 
nicrcy, and peace, to those who promote the hap- 
piness of their fellow-crcaturcs. 

The worship of God, in the open air, is beauti- 
iiil. Read these lines : 

The groves were God's first temples. Ere man learned 
To hew the sliaft, and lay the architrave, 
And s})read the rool" above them — ere he framed 
TJie lofty Vault, t6 gather and roll back 



NATURAL RELIGION. 13x5 

The sound of anthems in the darkling woodj 

Amidst the cool and silence, he knelt down 

And offered to the Mightiest, solemn thanks 

And sflpplication. For his simple heart 

Might not resist the sacred influences, 

That, from the stilly twilight of the place, 

And from the gray old trunks that high in heaven 

Mingled their mossy tops, stole over him, and bowed 

His spirit with the thought of boundless power 

And inaccessible majesty. 

The preceding verses were written by a poet* of 
our own country ; I hope you will one day be 
well acquainted with all that he has written, and 
that the heavenly and devotional spirit which 
breathes in his serious poetry, will elevate your 
young hearts also. 

The different religions of the Spaniards, of all 
Christians ; and that of the Indians, and all hea- 
thens, are, by way of distinction, called revealed 
and natural religion. When you read your bible, 
you know that Moses and the prophets, before 
Christ, and the apostles after him, were instructeil 
by God in what they should teach mankind. 
These instructions from God, are revealed religion. 
But those who have never received such instruc- 
tions, and only beheve that a wise and good Being 
made and governs all things, only enjoy natural 
religion. St. Paul speaks of natural religion, 
where he says of God, " he is clearly seen in the 
things that are made." It may be that Adam, 
Noah, and other patriarchs, left God's first revela- 
tions to their descendants, and this [mmitive rere- 
tation being jelated from father to son, has com- 

"W. C. Brvanti 



136 ANALOGY, 

municated a belief in the existence of God, and 
some notions of his government, successively to 
all men, thus forming what is generally called na- 
tural religion ; while the later and more particular 
revelations of Moses, Christ, and the apostles, 
have been bestowed upon a more favoured portion 
of mankind. 

You know that Christ says, the wicked shall go 
into everlasting punishment, and the righteous into 
the blessedness of his father, in another life. The 
Indian doctrine of two journeys, two destinations 
of departed souls, exhibits the same moral fact, 
or religious truth, as the Christian recompense of 
good and bad conduct. Such a resemblance is 
one of the analogies or similar principles of na- 
tural and revealed religion. 

I should not have made this digression, should 
not have turned from the narrative of Columbus's 
history, had I been writing for men, but I write 
for your instruction, as well as amusement, my 
little boys, and, when I find, in the course of a 
history, a suitable occasion to give you informa- 
tion, which is associated with something previously 
known to you, and which, I know, that, at your 
age, you cannot have received, I choose to tell 
you what may be of service to you, whenever you 
shall read other books, or listen to the conversa- 
tion of persons who are older and better instruct- 
ed than a child can be. 



Jl ]?AMILY 0E JAMAICA, 137 



CHAPTER XII. 

CoNTEAKY winds prevented Columbus fronn 
returning directly to Hispaniola, so he steered to 
the south, and completed the circumnavigation of 
Jamaica. For a whole month he was advancing 
from the west to the east along its southern coast. 
Columbus was delighted with this beautiful inland, 
though he could not leave his crazy ships, and 
their disorderly crews, to survey it ; but he an- 
chored at different harbours, and the natives came 
off in canoes to the ships, offering provisions to 
the Spaniards, and conversing with them by means 
of the Lucayan interpreter. This Indian never 
failed to relate the wonders of Spain to the de- 
lighted savages, and many of them, like the old 
man whom I formerly mentioned to you, became 
desirous to join the Spaniards. One instance is 
recorded of a whole family who solicited the pri- 
vilege of placing themselves under the government 
and protection of the admiral. 

One morning as the ships were gliding gently 
along near the coast, three canoes Avere seen 
approaching them in regular order. One larger 
than the others took the lead : it was handsomely 
carved and painted. The two smaller canoes 
seemed to be in attendance upon the larger. In 
the large canoe were seated the cacique of the 
neighbouring province, his wife, two sons, two 
daughters, and five brothers. The elder daughter 
was about eighteen years of age ; her sister was 
fiomevyhat younger. These females, according to 
12-* 



138 STATE, AND DECOKATIO^j-. 

the custom of their country, were without clothes ; 
but of a modest deportment. In the prow of the 
canoe stood a standard-bearer, holding aloft a flut- 
tering white banner — he was clad in a mantle 
made of feathers, and wore in his hair a tuft of 
gay plumes. " Two Indians, with caps or helmets 
of feathers of a similar form and colour, and their 
faces painted in a similar manner, beat upon 
tabors ; two others, witli hats curiously wrought 
of green feathers, held trumpets of a fine black 
wood, ingeniously carved ; and there were six 
others, with large hats of white feathers, who ap- 
peared to be guards to the cacique. 

" This gallant little armada having arrived along 
side of the admiral's ship, the cacique entered on 
board with all his tiain. He appeared in all his 
regalia'^ — in the ornaments which belonged to 
him as a prince, and which are only worn upon 
great occasions. " Around his head was a band 
of small stones of various colours, but principally 
green, symmetrically arranged, with large white 
stones at intervals, and connected in front by a 
large jewel of gold. Two plates of gold were 
suspended to his ears by rings of very small green 
stones. To a necklace of white beads, of a kind 
deemed precious by them, was suspended a large 
plate in the form of a fleur de lis, of guanin, an 
inferior species of gold ; and a girdle of varie- 
gated stones, similar to those round his head, 
completed his regal decorations His wife was 
adorned in a similar manner, having also a very 
small apron of cotton, and bands of the same 
round her arms and legs. The daughters were 
without ornaments, except the eldest and hand- 



C0311' ASSIGN or COLUMBUS. 1-39 

somest, who had a girdle of small black stones, 
from which was suspended a tablet, the size of an 
ivy leaf, composed of various coloured stones, 
embroidered on network of cotton. 

" When the cacique entered on board the ship, 
he distributed presents of the productions of his 
island, among the officers and men. The admiral 
was at this time in his cabin, engaged in his 
morning devotions. When he appeared on deck, 
tlie chieftain hastened to meet him with an ani- 
mated countenance. " My triend," said he, " I 
have determined to leave my country, and to ac- 
company thee. I have heard from these Indians 
who are with thee of the irresistible power of thy 
sovereigns, and of the many nations thou hast sub- 
dued in their nam.e. Whoever refuses obedience 
to thee, is sure to suffer. Thou hast destroyed 
the canoes and dwellings of the Caribs, slaying 
their warriors, and carrying into captivity their 
wives and children. AH the islands are in dread 
of thee ; for who can withstand thee now that thou 
knowest the secrets of the land, and the weakness 
of the people. Rather, therefore, than thou 
shouldst take away my dominions, I will embark 
with all my household in thy ships, and will go to 
do homage to thy king and queen, and to behold 
their marvellous country, of which thy Indians 
relate such wonders." 

" When this speech was explained to Colum- 
bus, and he beheld the wife, the sons and daugh- 
ters of the cacique, and thought upon the ills to 
which their ignorance and simplicity would be 
exposed, he was touched with compassion, and 
determined not to take them from their native 



140 DI5Al.'P0ISTME?i1!S. 

land. He replied to the cacique, therefore, that 
he received him under his protection, as a vassal 
of his sovereigns ; but, having many lands yet to 
visit before he returned to his country, he would 
call another time, and fulfil his desire. Then 
faking leave, with many expressions of amity, the 
cacique, with his wife and daughters and all his 
retinue, re-embarked in the canoes, returning 
reluctantly to their island, and the ships continued 
on their course." 

On the 4th of September, the squadron of 
Columbus entered the harbour of Isabella, and 
was welcomed with joy by such of the inhabitants 
as remained faithful. You will remember that Co- 
lumbus left Isabella on the 24th of April. During 
four months and more, the friends whom he had 
left had heard nothing of him, and began to fear 
that he had perished in some of the tempests 
which are so violent in the tropic seas, and which 
in fact he experienced, though I have not men- 
tioned them as often as they are noticed in the 
history of Columbus. 

You have not forgotten, I presume, how much 
the Spaniards desired to find gold, nor that the 
imagination of Columbus was filled with pictures 
of splendid oriental cities, which Marco Polo had 
described, and which he expected to find in his 
voyage, and perhaps to take possession of, in t! e 
name of their majesties, the Catholic sovereigns 
of Spain. You perceive nothing of this was ac- 
complished in this voyage of four months — nothing 
was achieved but the complete discovery of Ja- 
maica, and a more thorough examination of the 
toast of Cuba, These were indeed importaftt 



BARTHOLOMEW COLUMBUS. 141 

accessions of knowledge and power for Europeans ; 
but the full value of knowledge is not often known 
amidst the difficulties of acquiring it. The men 
who accompanied Columbus in this expedition, 
were disappointed in its result. Columbus knew 
that the Spanish nation expected more splendid 
discoveries than he had made, and the thought 
that he might be censured, with fatigue and anx- 
iety together, made him so ill, that when the squad- 
ron arrived at Isabella, he was almost insensible. 

Columbus was roused from this almost lifeless 
state by the presence of a dear brother- ; this was 
Bartholomew Columbus. The brothers had been 
separated many years, and were rejoiced to meet 
once more. When Columbus had unsuccessfully 
sought assistance from the king of Portugal, and 
was about to quit that country, he sent his bro- 
ther to England to obtain the patronage of Henry 
VII., then king. Misfortunes prevented Bartho- 
lomew Columbus from proceeding directly to 
England ; but when at last he was enabled to go 
and offer his petition, Henry offered to aid the 
enterprise, and Bartholomew Columbus returned 
to Spain to find his brother. At Paris, he learned 
what the Spanish sovereigns had done, — that the 
discovery was accomplished, and the admiral had 
just departed from Spain on a second expedition. 

The discovery of a new continent, as you have 
been told, called forth the admiration of all Europe. 
When Charles VIII. then king of France, heard 
that a brother of the great Columbus was in his 
capital, and almost without money, that monarch 
regarded the stranger in an honourable manner 
as the near relative of an individuni who was the 



142 THE ADELAKTADO. 

benefactor of nations, and belonging to mankind. 
This sentiment of respect disposed the king of 
France to offer Bartholomew Columbus one hun- 
dred crowns to defray the expenses of his journey 
to Spain. Bartholomew Columbus was graciously 
received by Ferdinand and Isabella. He was 
soon after his arrival in Spain entrusted by them 
with three ships stored with supplies for the 
colonies, and sent out to aid his brother in his 
enterprises. 

Bartliolomev/ Columbus was a good seaman — 
wise, generous and honourable as a man ; active 
in business ; and capable of governing othen^. 
These qualities rendered his services ven' desi- 
rable to the admiral, who made him second in 
command to himself, under the title of adelantado 
— an office which is the same as that of a lieute- 
nant governor. Columbus conceived that the com- 
mission which he had received from the Spanish 
fe'overeigns empowering him to order the whole 
government of the colonies as he might judge to 
be best, entitled him to bestow that ofiice upon 
his brother, who could not aid him without such 
a rank and title as the proud Spaniards would re- 
spect. When the king of Spain heard of this ap- 
pointment, he was offended at Columbus : he con- 
sidered it an encroachment upon his ■prerogative. 
A king's prerogative is his right to command or 
prevent certain acts of others, his subjects, and 
when a subject acts in particular cases without 
the king's authority, he disregards the king's 
prerogative. 

It was mentioned that Columbus, before depart- 
ing for his voyage, gave the rpimmand of a military 



©t)3lAIKS OP HAi'TI. 143 

Ibrce to Don Pedro Margarite, witli orders to 
make a tour of the island ; and commanding this 
army to treat the natives with justice and kindness. 
Hayti was then divided into five domains. Each 
district had its separate cacique, and each cacique 
had in subjection inferior caciques. The first do- 
main was the middle part of the Royal Vega. It 
was partly covered with forests and partly inha- 
bited and cultivated in the Indian manner. Some 
of the rivers of this district contained gold 
dust brought down from the mountains of Cibao 
by torrents. The name of the cacique was Gua- 
rionex — his ancestors had long ruled this province. 
Marien was the second. It extended from 
Cape San Nicholas in the west to the river Yagui. 
The chief of Marien was Guacanagari : on its 
coast Columbus was wrecked in his first voyage. 
The third domain was Maquana : the cacique of 
this territory was Caonabo, the Carib, and the 
sworn enemy of the white men. In Maquana 
were the gold minds of Cibao. The fourth, was 
Xaraqua, the most populous and extensive of all. 
It comprised the whole western coast, and ex- 
tended to the southern side of the island. The 
natives of this province were of more graceful 
manners and more eloquent speech than tliose of 
the other districts. The sovereign was Behechio : 
his sister, Anacaona, the most beautiful and at- 
tractive female in Cuba, was the favourite wife of 
Caonabo. Iliguey, flic fifth domain, was the eas- 
tern part of the island. Tlic chief was Cotuba- 
iiama. His subjects were the most wariike of the 
people of Hayti, It is supposed that Hayti at the 



144 DESERTION OF MA11GAKITE» 

time of the discovery contained nearly a million of 
inhabitants. 

During the absence of Columbus, misconduct 
and discontents prevailed in the colony. Marga- 
rite and his soldiers disobeyed the admiral's com- 
mands. They neglected his orders to survey the 
country peaceably, but quartered themselves on the 
inhabitants ; took forcibly from them the produc- 
tions of their soil, and insulted and oppressed them. 
"When complaints of these injuries were laid before 
Diego Columbus at Isabella, and he demanded 
of Margarite to obey his orders, the latter derided 
his authority, and with others as unjust as himself 
disputed the power of Columbus or his representa- 
tive, to enforce the regulations enjoined. The 
friar. Father Boyle took part with these revolters ; 
he and Margarite seized one of the ships which 
lay at Isabella and returned to Spain, with the de- 
sign to represent to the king and queen that the 
colony was in great disorder, and that they had 
. abandoned their enterprise on account of the 
tyranny of the rulers. 

The departure of Margarite left his army with- 
out a head, and they soon dispersed themselves, 
either singly, or in small bands over the island, 
committing all manner of abuses upon the poor 
Indians. The natives in their turn neglected no 
opportunity of retaliation, and though they dared 
not oppose themselves to any considerable number 
of well armed Spaniards, they set fire to houses 
containing the sick, and put to death without 
mercy such stragglers as fell in their way. Cao- 
nabo, the Carib chief of Maquana was the most 
formidable enemy of the Spaniards. He saw with 



THE VIKGIN MAllV. 145 

indignation that they were establishing themselves 
in the island, making themselves masters of its ter- 
ritory, and oppressing its inhabitants. 

The fortress of St. Thomas was erected in the 
very centre of Caonabo's dominions, and after the 
departure of Margarite, its garrison of fifty men, 
commanded by Alonzo de Ojeda, was the only 
military power in that province. Caonabo, as 
you have not forgotten, destroyed La Navidad ; 
and he resolved in the same manner to wreak 
his vengeance upon St. Thomas. Ojeda was a 
commander different from Arana., He was not 
only bold and skilful in battle, but he had an ex- 
cessive confidence in his own powers — this confi- 
dence was derived from his superstition. 

I have told you, Roman Catholics believe that 
holy men, or saints as tliey call ihem, after death 
offer the prayers of living men to Almighty God, 
and entreat the divine mercy for those who ask 
their mediation The Virgin Mary, the mother 
of Christ, according to their faith, is the chief me- 
diator, and in her supplications for them, they 
place their chief reliance. The image, or picture 
of the virgin, serves them for a " religious tabs- 
man." They bear this about their persons, and 
invoke, or address themselves to it in danger, or 
in the commencement of any undertaking, calling 
Mary the '• mother of God," and " the blessed 
virgin." It is on account of this superstiaon that 
Catholic artists have made so many beautiful pic- 
tures of the virgin. 

Ojeda, always " in the camp, the city, or the 
field," carried with him a small Flemish painting 
of " our liulv,"' as the virgin is often called, and 



146 GENEROSITY OF OJEDA. 

trusted without measure in her protection and 
help. "In a word," says Mr. Irving "he swore 
by the virgin ; invoked the virgin, whether in 
brawl or battle, and under favour of the virgin, he 
was ready for any enterprise or adventure, and the 
more hazardous, or extravagant the better. Such 
was this Alonzo de Ojeda, bigoted in his devotion, 
reckless in his hfe, fearless m his spirit, like many 
of the roving Spanish cavaliers of those days." 

Resolved to demolish St. Thomas, and expel 
the Spaniards from his province, Caonabo assem- 
bled ten thousand warriors armed with bows and 
arrows, and lances hardened in the fire. They 
approached the fortress in silence, and thought to 
take Ojeda by surprise. However, he was upon 
guard, being within his tower on a high place, and 
possessed of those firearms against which the 
naked Indians had no defence. Caonabo, finding 
he could not take the fort, endeavoured to starve 
the besieged Spaniards. During thirty clays the 
Indians surrounded the fortress, but Ojeda con- 
trived to support his small garrison 

Mr. Irving relates the following circumstance 
as having occurred during this siege. " At a time 
when the garrison was sore pressed by famine, an 
Indian gained access to the fort, bringing a couple 
of wood-pigeons for the table of the commander. 
The latter was in a chamber of the tower, sur- 
rounded by several of his officers. Seeing them 
regard the birds with the wistful eyes of famishing 
men : < It is a pity,' said he, ' that here is not 
enough to afford us all a meal ; I cannot consent 
to feast while the rest of you are starving ;' so 



CAONABO'S PLANS. 147 

saying, he turned loose the pigeons from a window 
of the tower." 

I hope you will not forget this anecdote. The 
companions of Ojeda would not have been more 
hungry, had the commander satisfied his appetite ; 
but men are so constituted, that we cannot avoid 
feeling our own privations more severely when we 
compare them with the gratifications of others. 
To save his men from this painful feeling, Ojeda 
denied himself. — There is in this action, small as 
it is, the delicate humanity and disinterestedness 
which evince a just and generous spirit. Re- 
member, children, whether you " eat or drink, or 
whatever you do," you may show respect to the 
feehngs of your fellow-creatures. 

The followers of Caonabo became impatient of 
their prolonged siege, and gradually withdrew 
themselves to their respective places of abode. 
But Caonabo did not give up the scheme of exter- 
minating the Spaniards — little comprehending that 
myriads of savages are nothing, opposed to the arts 
and arms of civilized men. Caonabo gave notice 
of his design to all the caciques of the island ; and 
those who had not suffered from the Spaniards, 
having heard of them, and of their oppressiveness, 
readily concerted with Caonabo in his plans. 
Guacanagari, that chief who had treated Columbus 
with so much hospitality when he was shipwrecked, 
continued faithful in his attachment. It would 
seem that he feared the Spaniards, for he fled be- 
fore them, but he would not arm himself against 
them ; and the confederate chiefs persecuted him 
for his constancy to the white men. Behechio 
killed one of his wives, and Caonabo carried awav 



148 RF^SOLUTIO^'S OF COLr^lBUS. 

another. All the confusion and bloodshed which 
ensued must be attributed to the misconduct of 
Margarite, and other persons disaffected to the ad- 
miral. Had they obeyed his injunctions, probably 
?io discord so fatal between the islanders and the 
colonists, would have arisen. Columbus, when 
partially restored to heahh, had the mortification 
to learn the wretched state of affairs which I have 
briefly described. 

While he was confined to his bed, Guacanagari 
paid Columbus a visit. He appeared to be af- 
flicted at the admiral's illness, and wept when he 
spoke of the massacre at La Navidad. He now 
informed Columbus of the confederacy of the ca- 
ciques, and the persevering hostility of Caonabo, 
and offered to bring his own people into the field, 
to aid the Spaniards. Columbus was gratified by 
this visit, and renewed his former friendship with 
Guacanagai;i. As soon as he had received infor- 
mation of the plans of Caonabo and his allies, 
Columbus resolved upon measures to defeat them. 
His first care was to punish Guatiquana, an infe- 
rior cacique, dependent upon Guarionex« the 
sovereign cacique of the Royal Vega. This 
Guatiquana had massacred several Spaniards. 
Columbus sent troops into his district, took some 
of his warriors prisoners, and excited the dread of 
the Spanish power, so as to prevent future ag- 
gressions from that quarter 

Columbus next had an interview with Guati- 
quana, and told him, that, while he was determi- 
;ned to punish all injuries which the Indians might 
inflict upon his people, he felt no enmity to them, 
§Jid- wished to retain their good will. Guatiqua- 



ojeda's proposal. 140 

na was placable, and easily persuaded to whatever 
Columbus should propose. While Caonabo re- 
mained unsubdued much was to be dreaded. 
That mountain chief was not only fierce, but cun- 
ning, and would perpetually lead his confederates 
into attacks upon the Spanish miners, and those 
who were residing at Isabella, or were stationed at 
the forts which had been erected at different places. 
But Columbus was at a loss how to take this for- 
midable enemy. 

In this perplexity, he was reheved by the pro- 
ject of Ojeda, who offered to take Caonabo, 
and deliver him alive into his hands. Colum- 
bus consented to the attempt. Ojeda chose ten 
fearless companions, and invoking the virgin, pe- 
netrated, with his followers, one hundred and 
eighty miles into the interior of the island, where 
Caonabo was found in one of his most populous 
tow^ns, enclosed by high mountains. Ojeda ap- 
proached Caonabo in the most respectful manner, 
treating him, through the whole interview, as a 
sovereign prmce. Caonabo, on his part, showed 
equal deference to Ojeda. Caonabo had made 
himself acquainted with the character of Ojeda 
when he besieged him at Fort St. Thomas, and 
he admired his courage, his agility, and his skill 
in the use of all kinds of weapons. 

Ojeda urged Caonabo to accompany him to Isa- 
bella, and there to make a treaty of amity with 
Columbus. It is said that Ojeda, as an induce- 
ment to compliance with his wishes, offered Cao- 
nabo the bell of the chapel of Isabella. " This 
bell was the wonder of the island. When the In- 
dians heard its melodv sounding through the fo- 
'13* 



3 50 OJEPa's STKATAGE3I. 

rests, as it rung for mass, and beheld tlie Spa- 
niards hastening towards the chapel, they thought 
it talked, and that the white men obeyed it. Cao- 
nabo had heard this wonderful instrument at a 
distance, in the course of his prowlings about the 
settlement and had longed to see it ; and when it 
was proffered to him as a present of peace, he 
found it impossible to resist the temptation." 
You perceive from this circumstance how much a 
savage is like a child. The gift of a hell would be 
of no consideration to a civilized man ; but this 
poor Indian, powerful as was his body, was as 
much " pleased with a rattle" as any little boy. 

The cacique agreed to Ojeda's proposal ; but 
when they were about to set out for Isabella, Oje- 
da was surprised to behold a powerful force of 
warriors, ready to march. Caonabo explained 
this, by saying it would be unsuitable to his digni- 
ty as a prince to be scantily attended on such an 
important occasion. Ojeda suspected that these 
attendants were designed for some mischief, and 
kept upon the watch accordingly. Ojeda soon 
thought of a stratagem by which to take the per- 
son of Caonabo. It was, indeed, a disgraceful 
deception. Unfortunately, the practices of men 
engaged in wars, or national hostilities of any 
kind, are not those of sincerity and honesty. In 
a military sense, honour is not the blessed law of 
doing to others as we would have them do to us, 
but a service rendered to one party at every ex- 
pense of truth and justice to the other. 

To return to Ojeda. The Spanish horsemen, 
accompanied by Caonabo and his men on foot, 
proceeded towards Isabella till they came to the 



CAONABO S CREDULITY. 151 

river Yaqui, where they halted, and Ojeda pro- 
posed to Caonabo to bathe in the river. At the 
same time he showed him a set of manacles, of 
highly polished steel, telling him they were orna- 
ments worn by the kings of Castile on festal days, 
and were intended as a present to himself. Ojeda, 
moreover, requested Caonabo to put them on, and 
then, that he might astonish his subjects, to mount 
the horse of Ojeda. Caonabo was dazzled by 
these ghttering ornaments, and delighted with the 
thought of bestriding that astonishing animal, 
which, ever since they first saw one, had appear- 
ed to the Indians as one of the wonders of the 
world, and an object equally of fear and admira- 
tion. Manacles are rings of steel, fitted to the 
wrists, having attached to them a chain ; and the 
whole, when fixed upon a man, is so adjusted that 
he is deprived of the power to defend his own 
person. 

Caonabo suffered these shackles to be put on 
without suspicion, being first mounted behind Oje- 
da, and treacherously secured to his seat. As 
soon as this was effected, Ojeda put spurs t«? his 
horse, and with his followers made off with their 
prize, leaving the retinue of Caonabo, in a state of 
helpless consternation, to make the best of their 
way back to their mountain homes. It was no 
easy matter to pass through a long extent of In- 
dian territory, without beincr interrupted, and 
yielding this formidable prisoner to his provoked 
countrymen. But this was accomphshed, the 
adventurers suffering greatly from fatigue, hunger, 
and watchfulness ; encountering many perils, ford- 
ing and swimming the numerous rivers of the 



152 CAOXABO A CAPTIVE. 

plains, toiling through the deep tangled forests, 
and clambering over the high and rocky mountains. 

Caonabo made no submission to his conquerors. 
He admired the hardihood and profound artifice of 
his enemy, Ojeda, because it resembled the daring 
and deep design of an Indian warrior, and he al- 
ways showed respect to him. Columbus thought 
proper to send this princely captive to Spain, 
but, till a suitable opportunity occurred, kept him 
a close prisoner in his own house. Columbus, as 
admiral and viceroy, commanded great personal 
respect. Whenever he entered the apartment 
where Caonabo was, all present rose and paid 
him reverence. Caonabo only paid no attention 
to him, though he always saluted Ojeda with 
marked honour. On being asked the reason of 
this, he rephed, that the admiral had never dared 
to come to his house and seize him ; but that he 
was indebted to the valour of Ojeda that he was 
his prisoner. " To Ojeda, therefore, he owed re- 
verence, not to the admiral.' 

The captivity of Caonabo enraged his subjects, 
and one of his brothers, assembling seven thousand 
natives, attempted an attack upon St. Thomas ; 
but Ojeda, at the head of a small, but powerful 
troop of horse, killed some, made prisoners of 
others, and put the rest to flight. Among the 
prisoners was the brother of Caonabo. 



COLONISTS ARRIVE. lo3 



CHAPTER XIIL 



Neither fightinaf nor seeking for gold, pro- 
duces any thing for people to eat, so the Spanish 
colonists were sadly in want of provisions, when 
four ships arrived from Spain, bringing a supply of 
necessaries, and a number of useful persons — 
mechanics, husbandmen, millers, and gardeners. 
Letters from the king and queen, dated August, 
1494, were also received ; one was addressed to 
Columbus and another to the colonists. The 
former expressed the approbation of their majes- 
ties in regard to the conduct of Columbus ; the 
latter enjoined absolute obedience to the viceroy, 
on the part of the people. 

The date of these letters was previous to the 
arrival in Spain of Margarite and Father Boyle. 
Columbus knew that they were his enemies, and 
would calumniate him to the king and queen. In 
order to counteract their malevolence, he fitted 
out the ships immediately to return, and sent 
home his brother Diego, faithfully to represent his 
administration to the Spanish sovereigns. Co- 
lumbus, at this time, sent to Spain as much gold 
as he could collect, and likewise five hundred In- 
dians, to be sold as slaves at Seville. 

Before v^e proceed any further in this history, 
it is necessai-y that I should give you some infor- 
mation respecting slavery. A slave, you know, is 
a human being, who is the property of another, 
his master or mistress ; and the children of slaves 
arc the property of the master of their parents. 



154 SLAVERY IN EUROPE. 

In the bible we read of bondmen and bondwo- 
men among the Hebrews ; and, in all Asia, the 
state of slavery still exists. In ancient Greece 
and Rome, a large part of the population were 
slaves, and, in modern Europe, the vassalage of 
the lower orders, much resembled the bondage of 
patriarchal times. Slavery, in any country of 
Europe, has never been annihilated by acts of sud- 
den emancipation, but by a gradual change in the 
opinions of the people — who, by degrees, educated 
the lower orders, gave them trades, and enabled 
them to acquire property ; and, at length, political 
regulations gave personal liberty, and certain in- 
dependent rights to all people. 

One is grieved to learn, that so great a benefac- 
tor of mankind as Columbus, should not have 
better understood the rights of man, than to sup- 
pose himself justified in tearing the poor Indians 
from their country, their families, and all the ob- 
jects of their affections, and causing them to be 
sold to the service of strangers. But the custom 
of employing African slaves, which had existed in 
Spain and Portugal, from the time that Guinea was 
discovered, was a precedent, or example ; and, 
though it is not right to follow any practice which 
is not just to our fellow-creatures, because our 
own or any other country permits it, Columbus, 
doubtless, encouraged this traffick in men, because 
it was an established trade. 

The teachers of religion in that age, as you have 
already been told, declared that all persons unin- 
structed in Christianity, were proper subjects of 
captivity and slavery. Ferdinand of Spain, made 
a practical use of this license, for in his wars witli 



, TRIBUTE EXACTED. 155 

the Moors, multitudes of the Moorish peasantry 
of -Spain, men, women, and children, were sold 
as slaves at the market of Seville, and in other 
populous towns ; and, after the capture of Malaga, 
eleven thousand of the inhabitants, many of refined 
habits, were sold to the lowest servitude The 
public sentiment of Spain in this matter, must 
have mislead the natural humanity of Columbus. 

The alliance of the caciques still subsisted, 
though the head of it was a prisoner, and these 
exasperated chiefs still retained their hostile in- 
tentions towards the Spaniards. Their number 
was great, and they trusted that the many could 
expel the few, and that they should once more, 
unmolested, "sit under their own vine and fig 
tree." This happiness was not reserved for them, 
for in no long time they were entirely subjugated. 

The manner in which Columbus exercised the 
power of a conqueror, was neither wise nor kind. 
In order to satisfy the expectations of the Spanish 
sovereigns and people he required an exorbitant 
tribute from the Indians. In all the region of the 
mines, each individual above the age of fourteen 
years, was compelled to pay in gold dust, the value 
of twenty dollars of our money annually ; and, as 
money was then of three times its present value, 
the tribute was equivalent to sixty dollars. The 
tribute demanded of the caciques was equivalent 
to three thousand dollars annually. In those dis- 
tricts, where there was no gold, large quantities of 
cotton were periodically exacted, and, in defect of 
payment, punishments were inflicted. To enforce 
these regulations, Columbus established military 
stations in different parts of the island. Tlie col- 



AFFLICTIONS OF THE NATIVES. 1 5tJ 

lecting of the gold, and the cultivation of the cot- 
ton, was labour too severe for human patience to 
endure. The effect of this treatment upon the 
Indians, is thus described by Mr. Irving. 

" Deep despair now fell upon the natives, when 
they found a perpetual task inflicted upon them, 
enforced at stated and frequently recurring pe- 
riods. Weak and indolent by nature, unused to 
labour of any kind, and brought up in the untasked 
idleness of their soft climate, and their fruitful 
groves, death itself seemed preferable to a life of 
toil and anxiety. They saw no end to this harass- 
ing evil, which had so suddenly fallen upon them. 
The pleasant life of the island was at an end ; the 
dream in the shade by day, the slumber during the 
sultry noontide heat by the fountain or the stream, 
or under the spreading palm tree ; and the song, 
the dance, and the game, in the mellow evening, 
when summoned to their simple amusements by 
the rude Indian drum. 

" They were now obliged to grope, day by day, 
with bending body and anxious eye. along the 
borders of their rivers, sifting the sands for the 
grains of gold which every day grew more scanty; 
or to labour in their fields, beneath the fervour of 
a tropical sun, to raise food for their task masters, 
or to produce the vegetable tribute imposed upon 
them. They sunk to sleep weary and exhausted 
at night, with the certainty that the next day was 
but to be a repetition of the same toil and suffer- 
ing ; or, if they occasionally indulged in their na- 
tional dances, the ballads to which they kept time, 
were of a melancholy and plaintive character. 



DEATH OF GUACANAGARI. 157 

" They spoke of the times that were past, before 
the white men had introduced sorrow and slavery, 
and weary labour among them : and they rehearsed 
pretended prophecies, handed down from their 
ancestors, toretelhng the invasion of the Spaniards; 
that strangers should come to their island, clothed 
in apparel, with swords capable of cleaving a man 
asunder, at a blow, under whose yoke their poste- 
rity should be subdued. These ballads, or areytos, 
they sang with mournful tunes, and doleful voices, 
bewailing the loss of their liberty, and their painful 
servitude." 

Among these sufferers, one deserves particular 
mention — the unhappy Guacanagari. His friend- 
ship for the Spaniards made him an object of con- 
tempt to his countrymen. The Spaniards forgot 
their obligations to him, and treated him as op- 
pressively as any other of their victims. Colum- 
bus, who knew his worth, was in Europe, and 
could not befriend him, when, worn out with care, 
toil, and poverty, this wretched man fled to the 
mountains, where he died in misery and obscurity. 
At the present time, only a few descendants of the 
primitive islanders remain, and these are poor and 
degenerate. Other races of men have succeeded 
to their inheritance , and pity (or their fate, and 
indignation tor their injuries, are the sad tribute 
which generous minds must pay to the memory of 
a people now exterminated from the face of the 
earth. 

14 



158 LETTER OF ISABELLA. 



CHAPTER XIY 



Maegarite and Father Boyle, when they were 
returned to Spain, complained of the government 
of Columbus, and excited the resentment of many 
respectable persons against him, by representing 
that he had treated many of the gentlemen under 
his command in a manner unsuitable to their dig- 
nity. They said nothing about the idleness and 
rapacity of the Spaniards, and of the necessity 
there was that they should submit to labour, and 
to a limited share of the scant provisions to which 
the colonists were sometimes reduced. The mis- 
representations of Father Boyle and his associates, 
determined their majesties to send out to Hispanio- 
la a suitable person, who should take a supply of 
necessary articles for the colonists and make in- 
quiries into the administration of the government. 

Before this was done, ships from Isabella ar- 
rived in Spain, bringing accounts from Columbus 
of his late voyage and his return to Hispaniola. 
These ships carried specimens of gokl, and other 
productions of the islands, together with five hun- 
dred Indians, who were destined to slavery. 
Queen Isabella would not permit these unfortu- 
nate people to be sold. She ordered them back 
to their native country, and in a letter to Colum- 
bus, enjoined that the islanders should be treated 
with humanity. Her interposition was too late ; 
the system of violence and extortion was already 



AGUADO. 159 

in operation, and nothing could check its unhappy 
progress. 

Towards the end of August, 1495, Juan Aguado 
set sail from Spain with four vessels stored with 
provisions, and with a commission to examine and 
report the condition of the colonies. Columbus, 
when Aguado ai rived in Hispaniola, was in the 
interior of the islond, employed in regulating af- 
fairs. Aguado took advantage of the admiral's 
absence, and boasting of a commission from the 
sovereigns to administer justice in the colony, it 
was reported that a new admiral was appointed ; 
and the people of Isabella, complaining loudly of 
Columbus, connived with an audacious intruder 
to annul his authority. Columbus got intelligence 
of these transactions, and immediately returned to 
Isabella. Offended and injured as he was, the 
admiral thought it prudent to conceal his con- 
tempt of A quado, treating him as a man honoured 
by the soveieigns of Spain, but still asserting his 
own rights as viceroy and admiral. 

The Indians having heard of the arrival of 
Aguado, hoped for some alleviation of their dis- 
tresses, and assembling together made a formal 
complaint of Columbus, as the author of their 
grievances. The discontents of the Spaniards, 
and the remoustrances of the natives against the 
admiral, furnished Aguado with all that he required 
to ruin Columbus and his brothers, and he pre- 
pared to retuin to Spain with intelligence of the 
mal-administration ot government in the colony. 
Columbus also determined to present himself to 
their majesties, and to vindicate his own conduct. 

About this time the most violent storm ever 



160 



MIGUEL DIAZ. 



known in the island occurred. It lasted three 
hours, and never, in the memory of the oldest na- 
tive, had their island been visited by so tremendous 
a tornado. The Indians " believed that the Deity 
had sent this fearful tempest to punish tlie crimes 
and cruelties of the white men ; and declared that 
this people had moved the very air, the water, and 
the earth, to disturb their tranquil hfe, and lay 
their island desolate." The vessels of Aguado 
were destroyed by the tempest, and not one re- 
mained in the harbour but the Txina, and she re- 
quired some repairs, before she could be ready for 
sea. V\ hile these repairs were making, and a 
new vessel building, an interesting piece of intel- 
ligence arrived at Isabella. It was the discovery 
of some valuable gold mines on the south side of 
Cuba. The story of this discovery was this : 

Miguel Diaz, a young Arragonian, in the ser- 
vice of the adelantado, had a quarrel with an- 
other Spaniard, fought with him, and wounded him 
dangerously. Afraid of being punished, Diaz 
withdrew from his comrades, accompanied by 
some friends of his. They concealed themselves 
for a while, and wandered to thf* south side of the 
island, to a district bordering on thr river Ojema. 
The village in which they at last took refuge was 
governed by a female cacique. The young Ar- 
ragonian pleased her and they married. For a 
short time Diaz was happy with his Indian bride ; 
but he soon found that the society of his friends, 
and the advantages of civilized life, afford higher 
enjoyments than the wild liberty, and comparative- 
ly low pleasures of the savage state. His wife 
perceived him to be unhappy, and understood the 



GOLD MINES. 161 

cause of his dejection. To comfort him, she told 
him that Iier country was more healthful and beau- 
tiful than Isabella and its vicinity, and that it af- 
forded abundance of gold. She urged him to 
persuade his countrymen to settle upon the banks 
of the Ojema, promising that they should be well 
treated by tfie natives. 

Diaz knew that intelligence of gold would be 
more likely to procure pardon for him than any 
mediation. Accordingly he availed himself of 
such a presumption, and set out to announce the 
discovery of mmes, and to reinstate himself in the 
favour of the adelantado. Isabella lay one hun- 
dred and fifty miles to the north ; but Diaz took 
Indian guides to find the settlement. He arrived 
there in due time, and in safety He found the 
man living, whom he had wounded, and obtained 
ready forgiveness from the adelantado. The ad- 
miral was rejoiced at the intelligence brought by 
Diaz, and the adelantado set out in person to ascer- 
tain if the report was true. He was accompanied 
by a skilful metallurgist, and a number of men well 
armed. They travelled nearly south from Isabella 
till they came to a great river called Hayna, and 
running into this river they discovered stieams, 
bringing down gold dust, and mines abounding in 
the precious metal. 

Columbus immediately ordered a fortress to be 
erected on the banks of the Hayna, and the mines 
to be diligently worked. Fancying hnnself near 
Asia, Columbus supposed this island was the 
Ophir of Scripture. It is not now known from 
what place "the gold of Ophir," mentioned in 
14* 



1 62 AMAZ02JS. 

the Old Testament was obtained — it certainly was 
not Hayti. I suppose you will be pleased to 
learn that Miguel Diaz conducted himself honoura- 
bly ; was employed in important business in the 
island ; arid lived happily with his Indian wife, 
who was baptized by the Spanish name of Catalina. 

On the 10th of March, 1496, two vessels, the 
Nina and the Santa Cruz, set sail for Spain. 
Columbus embarked in one, and Ag^uado in the 
other vessel, and with them two hundred and 
twenty-five passengers. Thf le were thirty Indians 
on board these ships, and among them the once 
formidable Caonabo. The navigation of the 
tropic seas was not then understood, and adverse 
winds kept the vessels more than a month among 
the Caribbee islands. At the most important of 
these, Guadaloupe, the Spaniards were detained 
several days. As they approached the land, a 
large number of female warriors, armed with bows 
and arrows, and ornamented with plumes in their 
hair, rushed out of the woods to oppose a descent 
upon their shores. 

The Indians explained to these women that the 
Spaniards only wanted food and water, and would 
givesornethmg valuable for it. The xAmazons ac- 
cordingly referred them to their husl.ands who were 
a Ifttle way off. I call these women Amazons, be- 
cause in ancient fables it is related that somewhere 
in western Asia lived a nation of warlike women 
called Amazons, who expelled men from their ter- " 
ritory, and defended themselves like the Carib 
women. Perhaps the Amazons of antiquity, like 
the Carib women, had husbands, who went out to 



COLUMBUS AT CADIZ. 163 

hunt and employ themselves abroad, and obliged 
their wives to protect their homes against savage 
neighbours. 

The report of firearms terrified even the Caribs, 
and tiiey no sooner heard it than they fled to the 
wooiis, leaving their habitations deserted. Co- 
lumbus sent forty men well armed, to explore the 
island ; they returned the next day, brinoing with 
them ten women and three boys, whom they had 
taken The women were laige and strong, and 
wore their hair flowing. One of them was the 
wife of a cacique. Columbus soon after dismissed 
these prisoners ; but the female cacique chose to 
remain on board the ships with the natives of His- 
paniola. The ships did not reach Cadiz till the 
lUh of June, after a voyage of three months. 
By the beginning of June, so great was the scarcity 
of provisions, that some of the Spanianls pioposed 
to kill and eat the Indians, or to throw them into 
the sea, as so many expensive and useless mouths. 
In the course of this voyage died the unhappy 
Caonabo. 

On ar/iving at Cadiz, Columbus found three 
vessels in the harhour, ready to sail vi'ith supplies 
for the colony: The commander was Pedro 
Alonzo Nino. By this opportunity, Columbus 
wrote to the adelantado, urging him to endeavour 
to keep pefjce in the island, and to make the 
country as productive as possible It was quite ap- 
parent that the Spanish nation had become indif- 
ferent to the acquisition of the new world, and dis- 
satisfied with Columbu? ; but the sovereigns wel- 
comed him on his arrival with a gracious letter ; 



164 DECEPTION OF NINO. 

and, in despite of the calumnies of Margarite and 
Father Boyle gave him a favourable rcQeption at 
Burgos, and promised to aid him in the prosecu- 
tion of more extensive discoveries. 

For this purpose Columbus asked eight ships ; 
two to carry supphes to Hispaniola, and six to go 
on an exploring voyage The sovereigns granted 
his request, and in the autumn of 1496, ordered 
a sum equivalent to eighty-seven thousand dollars 
to be advanced for such an appropriation. Just 
as the sum was about to be paid to Columbus^ 
Nino arrived at Cadiz, and made a public decla- 
ration that he had brought with him a large amount 
of gold. The king of Spain needed the money 
which had been granted to Columbus to repair 
the fort of Salza, and expended it for that object, 
at the same time giving Columbus an order upon 
Nino for the same amount. 

In the month of December following, it was 
discovered that Nino had no gold. His pretence 
for saying so, was a number of Indians he had 
brought with him, whom he presumed might be 
sold for large sums Columbus was grievously 
disappointed at this miserable deception, and 
hardly knew where to look for assistance. The 
resources of Spain were often so fooHshly ex- 
pended, that no money for useful purposes could 
be afforded. An eminent instance of this prodi- 
gality was exhibited at this very time. While 
Columbus was vainly suing for a few thousands, 
a magnificent armada of upwards of a hundred 
ships, having on board twenty thousand persons, 
was despatched to convoy the princess Juana to 



THIRD VOYAGE OF COLUMBUS. 165 

Flanders to be married to Philip, archduke of 
Austria, and to bring back his sister Margarita, 
the destined bride of Prince Juan. 

In the spring of 1497, the queen of Spain, for 
the king was much less engaged m his behalf, 
prijcured an ample grant of money to aid the 
projects of Coluuibus. It was also ordered that 
three hundred and thirty persons, some gentle- 
men and others labouiers, should accompany 
him lo the colony, and be paid for their services 
out of the royal treasusy. So unpopular, how- 
ever h^d Columbus become in S[)ain, that he 
was forced to cirry malef actors out to the colony, 
and forcibly to take ships and men for this service. 
The custom of that age permittmg the public 
authorities to seize ves^^els for public uses, and to 
pay for them what should be thought right. 

Various delays, besides the difficulty of obtain- 
ing ships and men, hindered Columbus from pro- 
ceeding on his intended voyage ; these were the 
opposition of the bishop Fonseca, and persons 
engaged in his service. Fonseca had the charge 
of money to be expended in foreign enterprises ; 
but detesting Columbus, he could hmder him from 
proceeding in his business, by keeping money a 
long time from his use. He did so, and Colum- 
bus was forced to bear this unworthy treatment. 
Before Columbus departed on his third voyage, 
he was allowed the right of establishing an here- 
ditary succession to his titles and estates, and he 
shortly after made a testament, or will, securing 
his property to his descendants, enjoining upon 
his representative always to sign himself '* The 
Admiral." All the dignities conferred on the 



166 



TROPIC SEA. 



adelantado by his brother, were confirmed by the 
Spanish sovereigns. 

On the 30th of May, 1498, Columbus set sail 
from Spain with his squadron of six vessels, taking 
a course farther to the south than the latitude of 
Hispaniola. On the Slstof June, being at the 
island of Gomera, Columbus divided his ships, 
sending three with provisions to the colony, and 
retaining the other three to prosecute a voyage of 
discovery Proceeding to the southwest, on the 
13th of July, he found himself in what are called 
the calm latitudes — the region extending eight or 
ten degrees on both sides of the equator. The 
trade winds from the southeast and northeast meet 
and destroy the force of each other, so that a pro- 
found calmness of air and water prevails. *' The 
whole sea is like a mirror, and vessels remain 
almost motionless, with flapping sails, the crew 
panting under the heat of a vertical sun, unmiti- 
gated by any refreshing breeze. Weeks are some- 
times expended in crossing this torpid tract of the 
ocean. 

♦* The weather for some time past had been 
cloudy and oppressive ; but on the 1 3th, there 
was a bright and burning sun. The wind sud- 
denly fell, and a dead, sultry calm commenced,, 
which lasted for eight days. The air was like a 
furnace ; the tar melted ; the seams of the ships 
yawned ; the salt meat became putrid ; the wheat 
was parched as if with fire ; the hoops shrunk 
from the water and wine casks, some of which 
leaked and others burst ; while the heat in the 
holds of the vessels was so suffocating, that no 
one could remain below a sufficient time to pre- 



ME. CX)LERIDGe's VERSES. 167 

vent the damage that was taking place. The 
mariners lost all strength and spirits, and sunk 
under oppressive heat." 

Read Mr. Coleridge's description of this region 
from the " Ancient Mariner" — 



" The fair breeze blew, the white foam flew, 
The furrow streamed off free ; 
We were the first that ever burst 
Into that silent sea ! 

Down dropt the breeze, the sails dropt down, 
'Twa- sad as sad could be ; 
And we did only speak to break 
The silence of the sea ! 

All in a hot and copper sky. 
The bloody sun, at noon, — 
Right up above, the sun did stand . 
No bigger than the moon ! 

Day after day, day after day, 
We felt, nor sound nor motion — 
As idle as a painted ship 
Upon a painted ocean ! 

Water, water, every where, 
And all the boards did shrink ! 
Water, water, every where, 
And not a drop to drink !" 

From a state like this, " the ships all at once 
emerged into a genial region, and a pleasant cool- 
ing breeze came creeping over the sea and gently 
filled the sails." The provisions on board being 
spoiled, and the water nearly spent, the admiral 
and his crews looked anxiously for land, which, 
on the 31st of July, they were rejoiced to discern. 
Three lofty eminences lifted themselves above the 
horizon, the base of which proved to be an island. 



168 " TRINIDAD. 

This island lies near one of the mouths of the 
Orinoco, at the entrance of the Gulf of Paria. 
Columbus called it Trinidad, in English, Tiinity. 
Two capes on the west side of Trinidad approach 
near to the continent, since called South America, 
and the island is separated from the contment by 
two straits ; one to the northwest, called by Co- 
lumbus the Dragon's Mouth and the other to the 
south, the Serpent's Mouth 

On the first approach to Trinadad, Columbus 
found it difficult to obtain any acquaintance with 
the natives, but on Monday, the 6th of August, 
some of them were allured to the ships, and treat- 
ed with the admiral's usual benignity. " They 
were tall of stature, finely formed, and free and 
graceful in their movements. Their hair was 
long and straight ; some wore it cut short, but 
none of them braided it, as was the custom of the 
natives of Hispaniola. They were armed with 
bows, arrows, and targets. The men wore cotton 
cloths about their heads and loins, beautifully 
wrought with various colours, so as at a distance 
to look like silk, but the women were entirely 
naked." These people, like all the savages of 
the new world, gave abundantly of the productions 
of their soil to the Spaniards. These savages ap- 
peared to judge of every thing by the odour of it : 
when they approached a boat, they smelt to it, 
and then to the people. 

When some of the Spaniards went ashore, the 
islanders, headed by the cacique and his son, wel- 
comed, and almost worshipped them. They were 
conducted to a large house, the dwelling of the ca- 
cique, and were banqueted with delicious fruits. 



PEARL FISHER y. 



169 



and a beverage resembling beer. It does not ap- 
pear, that any intoxicating liquor originated with 
the natives of the new world. At the banquet at 
the cacique's house, the men collected at one end 
of the building and the N.omen at the other No 
pure gold was to be seen at Trinidad. Among 
these people, the Spaniards chiefly coveted the 
strings of pearls, which encircled their arms. A 
considerable quantity of pearls was obtained from 
them, and sent to the king and queen. The na- 
tives said they were obtained from the immediate 
vicinity of a coast to the northwest. Passing out 
of the Dragon's Mouth, and sailing westward 
along the other coast of Paria, on the 1 6th of Au- 
gust Columbus discovered the island of Margarita. 

Near Margarita the natives were fishing for 
pearls, and they were easily persuaded to ex- 
change some for articles of no real value. In 
one instance, a plate of coarse Valencia porce- 
lain was broken up, and the pieces exchanged for 
beautiful pearls. By such bargains several pounds' 
weight were obtained, and sent to Spain as spe- 
cimens. Columbus would gladly have pursued 
his discoveries alqng this coast, but the state of 
his health compelled him to return to Hispaniola. 
If you look upon the map, westward from the island 
of Trinidad, you will perceive that Columbus 
was in the Caribbean Sea, near the north coast of 
South America. 

The existence of that continent was not then 
ascertained, but Columbus presumed that it was a 
continent, and not an island, from this circum- 
stance : The water of the Gulf of Paria was not 
salt like the ocean, and appeared to receive a vast 
15 



170 A CONTINENT. 

influx of fresh water from the south. Columbus 
conceived, that this fresh water was the outpour- 
ing of some great river. As rivers are collections 
of many smaller streams into one, which contains 
the whole of the tributary or original waters, all 
flowing from springs in the earth, and from moun- 
tains, Columbus knew that a small tract of land 
can only supply small streams of water, and that a 
large body of fresh, or river water, must proceed 
from a large extent of land. This large extent of 
land is a continent. He, therefore, believed, that 
the coast of Paria was part of a continent, and he 
was right. The water which flowed into the Gulf 
of Paria, proceeded from the river Orinoco, which 
you know is the northernmost of the three great 
rivers of South America. 



CHAPTER XV. 

Columbus had sailed from Hispaniola, March 
1st 1496 : after his third voyage he arrived at the 
mouth of the Ojema, August 30, 1498. Two 
years and a half had elapsed in his absence, and 
he was greeted on his return, with the sincerest 
pleasure and warmest affection, by his brother, 
Don Bartholomew. The adelantado had put into 
execution the orders he had received, to work the 
minesy collect the tribute, and commence a settle- 
ment on the south side of the island. This settle- 
ment, at first called Fort St. Domingo, gradually 
increased to the city, at present known as St. Do- 



BEHECHIO. 171 

mingo. To effect the security of the Spanish 
power in the island, Don Bartholomew caused 
five military posts to be established between Isa- 
bella and Fort St. Domingo, and placed in them a 
sufficient number of men for the defence of each 
station. 

As the Spaniards did not employ themselves to 
any extent in husbandry, they were, at this time, 
often in want of food ; for the provisions brought 
out by Nino, had been injured in the transpor- 
tation. The Indians no longer gave freely from 
their stores, and the adelantado was forced to re- 
side for a month in the vega, with four hundred 
men, to collect tribute, and obtain food from Gua- 
niorex, the cacique of that country. Xaragua, 
which comprehended the peninsula of Tiburon, 
and the whole coast at the west of the island, had 
not yet been visited by the conquerors. It was 
governed by the cacique Behechio, who lived 
peaceably and happily in his dominions, undistur- 
bed by the exactions of the Spaniards. The ade- 
lantado knew the fertihty of this province, and 
determined to participate in its resources. In order 
to take measures for obtaining tribute he paid a 
visit to Behechio. 

In passing through those parts of the island 
which the Europeans had not visited, the adelan- 
tado took care to strike the minds of the natives 
with awe and admiration. The horsemen advanced 
first, and the whole progress of the Spaniards was 
attended by flying banners, and the sound of the 
drum and trumpet. Behechio met the adelantado. 
He was attended with a great army of his subjects, 
armed in the manner of the country. If Behe 



172 ANACAONA. 

chio had received intelligence of Don Bartholo- 
mew's entrance into his dominions, and had in- 
tended to resist his advance, the sight of the Spa- 
nish troops at once daunted his resolution, and he 
met the adelantado respectfully. The latter in- 
formed the cacique that he had come into his do- 
main to pass a little time with hnn in friendly in- 
tercourse, and the cacique made him welcome, 
dismissed his army, sent forward intelligence to 
his subjects of the adelantado's approach, and pro- 
ceeded with him to the place of his residence. 

The adelantado was cordially received by the 
cacique's sister, Anacaona, the widow of Caona* 
bo. This native princess, was one of the most 
beautiful and intelhgent women of the new world ; 
her name, in the Indian language, signified Flower 
of Gold. She possessed a superior genius, and 
judgment ; was skilled in the composition of the 
areytos, or ballads, which the natives chaunted to 
the measure of their national dances, and, dis- 
cerning the superiority of civilized over savage 
men, admired the Spaniards, notwithstanding they 
had injured her country. Anacaona counselled 
her brother to take warning from the fate of Ca- 
onabo, and to cultivate their friendship. Caona- 
bo's hostility to them, had brought their vengeance 
upon him, and the most dreadful misfortunes in 
consequence : a prudent and peaceable conduct 
would be the proper means to avoid similar 
disasters. 

Anacaona prepared to receive her brother and 
his guests in a suitable manner. " As they ap- 
proached the place, thirty females, of the cacique's 
household, came forth to meet them, singing their 



INIHAN FEAST. 173 

areytos, dancing, and waving palm-branches. The 
married females wore aprons of embroidered cot- 
ton, reaching half way to the knees ; the young 
women were entirely naked, with merely a fillet 
round the forehead, their hair falling on their 
shoulders. They were beautifully proportioned, 
their skin smooth and delicate, and their complex- 
ion of a clear and agreeable brown. The Spa- 
niards, when they beheld them issuing forth from 
their green woods, almost imagined they beheld 
the fabled dryads, or native nymphs and fairies of 
the fountains, sung by the ancient poets. When 
they came before Don Bartholomew, they knelt, 
and gracefully presented him the green branches. 

" After these, came the female cacique, Anaca- 
ona, reclining on a kind of light htter, borne by six 
Indians. Like the other females, she had no other 
covering than an apron of various coloured cotton. 
She wore round her head a fragrant garland of 
red and white flowers, and wreaths of the same 
round her neck and arms. She received the ade- 
lantado and his followers with that natural grace 
and courtesy for which she was celebrated ; mani- 
festing no hostility towards them for the fate her 
husband had received at their hands." This re- 
ception was followed by a feast as liberal as the 
country could afford, and, for two days, Behechio 
ordered every thing to be offered to the Spaniards 
for their accommodation and amusement. 

One of the exhibitions of the Indians, was a 
mock fight. Two squadrons, naked, but armed, 
appeared in the public square, and, commencing 
a skirmish in sport, ended it in blood. Four of 
their number were slain, and more miijrht have 



374 GUARIOIVEX. 

fallen, but the acielantado, and other cavaliers, 
interferred, and put a stop to this game. When 
the festivities had ceased, the adelantado informed 
the cacique and his sister, that his brother the 
admiral, and himself, had been appointed by the 
sovereigns of Spain to govern the island, and to 
protect and defend its princes ; that he had come 
into Xaragua to take that province under his care, 
and that he required such a share of its produc- 
tions, as was paid by the other caciques Behe- 
chio declared, that he had no gold — his subjects 
hardly knew it — but that cotton and other products 
of the soil, were at the command of the Spanish 
viceroy, and should be ready for his acceptance 
at regular times. So cheerfully and meekly did 
this unfortunate race submit to the will of their 
invaders, when that will was announced with even 
the show of humanity. 

When Don Bartholomew returned to the settle- 
ment, he found his people, as usual, discontented, 
and, not long after, an open insurrection broke 
out among the Indians. With Father Boyle, came 
from Spain two friars, who were more anxious to 
make proselytes than their principal — these re- 
mained in the island after Father Boyle had return- 
ed. They were particularly desirous to convert 
Guarionex, the cacique of the vega, and suc- 
ceeded so far as to make him, and his whole fami- 
ly, repeat the Pater noster, (Lord's prayer,) and 
creed daily. The neighbouring caciques derided 
Guarionex for this mean conformity, as they con- 
sidered it, to the customs of strangers. At the 
same time, some of the Spaniards took away the 
cacique's wife. Guarionex felt that these intru- 



SACRILEGE AND HERESV. 175 

ders had brought upon him the contempt of hi?; 
countrymen, and the ruin of his family, and he 
indignantly returned to the religion of his ances- 
tors, detesting the Catholic faith as a religion- of 
wicked men. The missionaries, finding they 
could make no converts in the vega, removed to 
another territory, taking with them one Indian 
convert, who had been baptized by the name of 
Juan Mateo. Before their departure, the mis- 
sionaries caused to be erected a small chapel, 
furnished with an altar, a crucifix, and images for 
the use of the family of Mateo. 

They were scarcely gone, when several Indians 
broke into the chapel, seized the images, trampled 
them under foot, and buried them in a neighbour- 
ing field. According to the notions of the Ca- 
tholics, any disrespect to images used as objects of 
religious worship, is a crime called sacrilege, and 
deserves nothing less than death. To disbelieve 
the Catholic faith, they called heresy, and they 
considered heresy a crime of the same magnitude 
as sacrilege. At this period, Mr. Irving says — 
*' In Spain, all heresies in religion, all recanta- 
tions from the faith, and all acts of sacrilege, either 
by Moor or Jew, were punished with Jire and 
fagot. Such was the fate of the poor ignorant 
Indians, convicted of this outrage on the Church." 
This means, that they were surrounded with lighted 
fagots, and burnt to death. This manner of ex- 
pressing zeal for our faith, is directly against the 
teaching of the Gospel, and the example of Christ 
and his apostles. 

Guarionex was bitterly incensed against the 
Spaniards for this treatment of his subjects, and, 



nC INDIAN MESSENGER. 

being counselled by the neighbouring chiefs to re- 
venge it, he conspired with them to rise upon the 
Spaniards, and massacre them on the day appoint- 
ed for them to pay tribute. By some means, in- 
formation of this conspiracy was conveyed to Fort 
Conception, the Spanish fortress in the vega, and 
information of it sent to the adelantado. You 
will be diverted at the expedient which the Spa- 
niards devised to communicate their danger to 
their countrymen at St. Domingo. They employ- 
ed an Indian messenger whom they could trust, 
but it was most probable that he would be stopped 
by some of the natives on his way, and, if a letter 
should be found in his possession, they would sus- 
pect him of aiding a treacherous plan of their ene- 
mies, for the natives had discovered, that these 
fetters had a wonderful power of communicating 
intelligence — they fancied they could talk. The 
letter wasj therefore, enclosed in a reed, which 
you know is hollow, and the Indian used it as a 
staff. The messenger was indeed stopped on the 
way, but affected to be dumb and lame." He 
^poke only by signs, intimating that he was re- 
turning to his home, and, leaning on his staff, 
limped along with extreme difficulty. He was 
suffered to depart, and dragged himself feebly for- 
ward until out of sight, when he resumed his 
speed, and bore the letter safely and expeditiously 
to St. Domingo. 

As soon as the adelantado got this information, 
he set out with a body of troops for the vega. 
The Indians, to the amount of many thousands, 
were assembled under their respective caciques, 
waiting for an appointed moment to seize Fort 



PEACE RESTORED. 177 

Conception, and massacre the garrison. The 
adelantado learned from some of the Spaniards 
at Fort Conception, in what manner the caciques 
had disposed of their forces, and where each chief 
was stationed. Guarionex, and the other ca- 
ciques, not dreading the approach of an enemy, 
lay down to sleep. At midnight, the Spaniards, 
being directed how to proceed by the adelantado, 
surprised and made the caciques prisoners, with- 
out any effusion of blood. Guarionex was taken 
by the adelantado in person. Don Bartholomew 
thought it his duty to make examples of two of 
the chiefs, and caused them to be put to death ; 
but he forgave Guarionex and the rest of the in- 
surgent chiefs. Guarionex was so affected by the 
generosity of the adelantado, that he exhorted 
his countrymen cheerfully to submit themselves to 
the Spanish power. So well were they pleased 
with their chief's discourse on this occasion, that 
they took him up with transport on their shoul- 
ders, bore him to his habitation with songs and 
shouts of joy, and, for some time, the tranquillity 
of the vega was restored. 

Don Bartholomew had caused two vessels to be 
built for the use of the colony. At a proper time, 
he sent one of these vessels to the province of 
Xaragua, to take in tribute, Behechio having in- 
formed him, that the cotton, and other articles, 
agreed upon, were ready for his acceptance. The 
adelantado, accompanied by a numerous train, 
set out for Xaragua, and were very cordially re- 
ceived by Behechio and Anacaona. Thirty-two 
inferior caciques were waiting to offer their re- 
spective portions of the tribute. Anacaona pro- 



178 LIBERALITY OF ANACAONA. 

posed to her brother, that they should go to be- 
hold the great canoe of the white men. On their 
way to the coast, the adelantado was lodged at 
the house where Anacaona treasured up all those 
articles, which she esteemed most valuable. 

The treasures of Anacaona consisted of various 
manufactures of cotton, curiously wrought ; of 
chairs, tables, and other articles of furniture, 
formed of ebony and other kinds of wood, carved 
with figures and devices ; and of household uten- 
sils, some of clay, others of wood, all evincing 
great skill and ingenuity in a people who had no 
iron tools to work with. Such were the simple 
treasures of this Indian princess, of which she ge- 
nerously made numerous presents to her guests." 
Anacaona was infinitely delighted with the ship, 
and, though terrified when the cannon fired a sa- 
lute, the adelantado soon satisfied her and her at- 
tendants, that they were in no danger. Having 
loaded the ship, and sent her oflf, Don Bartholo- 
mew and his troops returned by land to Isabella, 
first taking an affectionate leave of Behechio, and 
his sister, and making them many presents. Ana- 
caona was afflicted at the adelantado's departure, 
and drew from him a promise, that he would again 
visit Xaragua. 

When the adelantado arrived at Isabella, he 
found that settlement in confusion. In the ab- 
sence of his brother, Don Diego Columbus was 
at the head of affairs, but the Spaniards never 
submitted themselves willingly to the authority of 
any of this family. The brothers, you know, 
were natives of Genoa, and the Spaniards ever 
considered them as intrusive foreigners. 



ilOLDA^-. 179 

Wlicri the admiral arranged the civil order, as 
it was to subsist during his absence in Spain, one 
Francisco Roldan was made alcalde mayor, or 
chief judge of the island. Roldan was not satis- 
fied with this honourable station, aftd longed if it 
were practicable, to excite a general revolt against 
Don Bartholomew and Don Diego. Roldan had 
been employed as a superintendent of public 
works, and had become acquainted with the low-^ 
est class of the colonists. These complained of 
the labours they were forced to undergo, and Rol- 
dan easily persuaded them that their toil was un- 
necessary, and inflicted upon them by the admi- 
ral and his brothers, who, he said^ considered the 
Spaniards as so many slaves, born to build houses 
and fortresses for their accommodation and de- 
fence, while they went about the island enriching 
themselves at the expense of the natives. 

Roldan, at the same time, represented, that if 
the adelantado could be removed, all the evils of 
which the Spaniards complained, would cease, 
and each man might do what should be right in 
his own eyes. Roldan, however, intended to be- 
come their master, and to enrich himself. He 
was disappointed in a plan which he laid to take 
the life of Don Bartholomew, but he thought the 
time of his absence at Xaragua, afforded a con- 
venient opportunity for him to deprive Don Diego 
of his authority, and to take it upon himself He 
meant to excite a public disturbance, and, at that 
time, to assume the direction of the colony. 

When the vessel which brought tribute from 
Xaragua had her cargo taken out, Don Diego or- 
dered her to he drawn up on the land, to remain 



180 BOK DIEGO COLUMBUS. 

till she should be required in the public service. 
Roldan told the colonists that Don Diego ordered 
the ship into this situation, because he was fear- 
ful that some of the people might take possession 
of her, and go off to Spain, in order to give infor- 
mation there of the oppressive government of the 
brothers. The people believed this false sugges- 
tion, and demanded the ship, that she might be 
sent to Europe for provisions. Don Diego told 
them she was not fitted for so long a voyage, and 
refused to let them take her ; Roldan then in- 
structed them to seize her, and to refuse all sub- 
mission to the will of Don Diego. Don Diego 
thought it best to remove Roldan, and sent him 
with forty soldiers to punish some Indians who 
had refused to pay tribute. Roldan, instead of 
establishing the authority of government, at- 
tached the Indians to his interests. While things 
were in this state the adelantado returned from 
Xaragua, 



ROLDAI^''s IIYPOCIUSV. 181 



CHAPTER XVI. 

lloLDAN did not think it prudent to contend 
with the adelantado ; but having seventy able and 
fearless men under his command, believed it to be 
practicable to seize Fort Conception, in the vega. 
The caciques of the interior, whose tribute he 
promised to remit, offered their assistance to his 
operations. Fort Conception was commanded 
by a loyal and able soldier, Miguel Bailester, who 
resisted his forces, and wrote to the adelantado 
for assistance. Don Bartholomew immediately 
repaired to the fort, while Roidan and his men 
were at a village six miles distant. 

Don Bartholomew summoned Roidan to ap- 
pear before him ; but the latter, though he at- 
tended the summons, made no accommodation 
with the adelantado. Finding himself unable to 
turn the better part of the settlers from their alle- 
giance to the appointed authorities, Roidan pro- 
posed to his followers to establish themselves in 
the province of Xaragua : but before he went 
thither he committed various outrages at Isabella, 
in the absence of Don Bartholomew, breaking 
into the royal store house and taking ammunition, 
clothing, and whatever he and his rapacious asso- 
ciates wanted. In all this defiance of law and 
subordination, Roidan pretended to be " a re- 
dresser of grievances and a champion of the in- 
jured." He professed to feel indignant that his 
countrvmen should be subject to foreigners, and 
16 



182 ASSISTANCE FROM SPAIN. 

that the natives should suffer from the same op- 
pressors. The latter, deceived by his hypocrisy^ 
regarded him as a benefactor, and actually gave 
him more gold than was demanded as tribute. 

The disaffection of the colonists, and the open 
enmity of the caciques, had reduced Don Bartholo- 
mew to a desperate state, when Pero Fernandez 
Coronal arrived at the port of St. Domingo, with 
two ships from Spain, bringing with him supplies 
of all kinds, and a strong reinforcement of troops. 
Nothing could have been more fortunate. Roldan 
repaired to St. Domingo to gain adherents among 
those who were newly arrived, but the adelantado 
was before him. Coronal was an honourable man, 
and those who had come out under his charge, 
were enjoined to submit themselves entirely to 
the adelantado. As soon as the latter had se- 
cured this new force, his generous nature medi- 
tated reconciliation with Roldan. 

Hearing that Roldan was only fifteen miles from 
St. Domingo with his band, the adelantado sent 
Coronal to exhort him to obedience, promising 
him, that his rebellious conduct should be forgiven. 
This generous offer was made in vain. Roldan 
pretended, that he would submit to the admiral, 
when he should arrive, but that he would never 
yield to his brother. Soon after he had made this 
declaration, Roldan with his adherents, withdrew 
into the province of Xaragua. The Indians of 
the vega, had imbibed the enmity of Roldan 
against Don Bartholomew, and conspired together 
to expel him from their territory. In order to 
do this effectually, they agreed to rise at an ap- 
pointed time— the season of the full moon. an(] 



IGNORANCE OF THE INDIANS. 183 

put to death the garrison at Fort Conception, and 
all other Spaniards in the province. 

The Indians did not know how to count more 
than ten. They could not say, — in twenty days 
from this day, we will meet at a certain place, or 
begin a certain undertaking, — they were obliged 
to fix on a time of the moon which would be visible 
to ail, as the jiew moon, or the full moon. When 
they wanted to express a precise number of men, 
or things, they had neither words nor figures, but 
they took grains of corn, and made one or more 
Strains represent one or more individual objects. 
i hope you understand this. One of the caciques, 
who did not excel any more in his observation of 
;he heavens than in counting, did not exactly 
know when the moon was full, but mistaking the 
[light, took up arms too soon, and, acting without 
•zoncert with the other Indians, did nothing but 
darm the Spaniards, and put them upon the watch. 
The Indian who had deceived himself, on disco- 
veering his mistake, fled to Guarionex for protec- 
tion, but that chief, indignant at the stupidity of 
bis confederate, killed him on the spot. 

The adelantado, hearing of this insurrection, 
proceeded with a body of troops to the vega, 
Gruarionex was informed of his approach, and feel- 
ing that the white men were too powerful for his 
wretched countrymen, abandoned his subjects and 
his fertile soil, and, taking his family with him, 
gought refuge in the mountains of Ciguay, which 
[ay between the vega and the sea. The Cigua- 
pns were a more warlike race of men than those 
of the plain. Their chief, Magobanex, received 
the fugitives with kindness, and promised to defend 



184 THE CHIEF MA(3;OI3A.\EX. 

the unfortunate Guarionex, and to revenge his 
njuries. Aided by this ally and his hardy 
Ciguayans, Guarionex made several descents in- 
to the plain, . and cut off" some straggling parties 
of Spaniards. But this partial success was all. 

In the spring of 1498, the adelantado set forth 
with a body of ninety men, a few cavalry, and a 
body of Indians, to penetrate the fastnesses of 
the Ciguay mountains. As usual in such engage- 
ments, the numbers of the Indians was of little 
avail against the superior skill of a few Europeans. 
When the Spaniards encountered the Indians, 
they were " hideously painted, and looking more 
like fiends than men, burst from their conceal- 
ment. The forest rang with their yells and bowl- 
ings. They discharged showers of arrows and 
lances." But, though some among the white 
men were terrified, others wounded, and a few 
killed, all this was but the last and unprofitable 
effort of a perishing race. 

The adelantado, having taken several prisoners 
in this campaign, made an offer of protection and 
friendship to Magobanex, if he would surrender 
the cacique, of the vega, " but threatening, in 
case of refusal, to lay waste his territory with fire 
and sword. The cacique listened attentively to 
the messenger. When he had finished, ' Tell the 
Spaniards,' said he, ' that they are bad men, 
cruel and tyrannical, usurpers of the territories 
of others and shedders of innocent blood ! I have 
no desire of the friendship of such men. Guari- 
onex is a good man, he is my guest, he has fled to 
me for refuge, I have promised to protect him. 
and I will keep my word." 



TAKEN rRISONETl, 18a 

The adelantado now pursued his plan of se- 
curing his power, by making all resistance from 
the natives impossible in future. He set fire to a 
{"ew villages, and threatened others with a similar 
destruction. The unhappy Ciguayans entreated 
their chief to surrender Guarionex, but he was 
firm in his purpose of protecting him. Don 
Bartholomew was not less persevering, and pro- 
ceeded with all his force to Cabron, where 
Magobanex and all his army were quartered. 
His subjects deserted Magobanex, and he fled 
with his family into a secret place in the moun- 
tains. Guarionex wandered about alone in the 
most desolate places, and concealed himself from 
the Ciguayans, some of whom considering him as 
the cause of their misfortunes, sought him in order 
to deliver him up to the enemy. 

The unfortunate caciques did not long remain 
in concealment. Two Spaniards hunting that 
species of rabbits called utias, encountered two 
of the followers of Magobanex, who were on 
their way to a distant village in search of bread 
for the sustenance of the chief and his family. 
The Spaniards arrested the Indians, and delivered 
them to the adelantado. He compelled them to 
tell where the cacique had secreted himself, and 
to act as guides to the place. Twelve Spaniards 
accompanied them. These stripped themselves, 
stained and painted their bodies so as to look like 
Indians, and wrapped their swords in palm leaves. 
Magobanex did not suspect himself to be in 
danger. He was found in his retreat surrounded 
by his wife and children, and a few faithful ad- 
16* 



186 PEACE MADE. 

herents : they were all conveyed to the adelanta- 
do. Soon afterward Guarionex was taken. 

Giiarionex expected nothing from the adelan- 
tado but death. Don Bartholomew thought it 
a sufficient security for the peace of the colony, 
that the two chiefs should be detained as 
prisoners, — and he gave their followers their free- 
dom on condition that they would in future submit 
themselves to the Spanish government. Among 
the prisoners taken with Magobanex was his 
sister, the wife of another cacique. This affec- 
tionate woman had followed her ill-fated brother, 
leaving her own dominions, which the Spaniards 
had not yet penetrated, to wander among rocks 
and precipices that she might comfort him in his 
exile and affliction. When the husband of this 
woman heard that she was in captivity, " he was 
distracted with grief, and hastening to the adelan- 
tado, offered to submit himself and all his posses- 
sions to his sway, if his wife might be restored to 
him." The adelantado accepted his ofler, and 
the cacique kept his word. This pacification was 
just accomplished when Columbus returned to 
the colony. 

The state of the island was indeed distressing. 
A country which the admiral had discovered but 
four years before, populous, peaceful, and happy, 
was now involved in bloodshed and ruin, among 
the natives ; and with the usurpers of their rights 
there was neither prosperity nor virtue. In the 
prosecution of hostilities, the culture of the fields, 
the working of the mines, and the completion of 
public works, were abandoned. Hope, good 
iaith, and public confidence were nowhere to be 



BALLESTER MEETS ROLDAN. 187 

seen either in the countenances or the conduct of 
the Spaniards. The three vessels which Colum- 
bus had separated from his squadron to convey 
provisions to the colony, were carried by the cur- 
rent west of the harbour of St. Domingo, and at 
length driven to the coast of Xaragua. Rol- 
dan and his associates applied to the captains of 
the ships for such things as they stood in need of, 
swords, lances, and various other articles, and 
vyere furnished with them. You must remember 
that the people on board the ships, who were 
destined as labourers for the colony, were many 
of them criminals who had been taken from pubhc 
punishment. Roldan found among them many 
ready to join him, and it was not till the third day 
after his arrival at Xaragua, that one of the cap- 
tains, Alonzo de Caravajal, discovered that Roldan 
was a rebel, and that he was enticing the servants 
of the colony to sedition. This he did effectually, 
though Caravajal exhorted him to submit himself 
to the regular government. 

The admiral was alarmed when he became ac- 
quainted with the proceedings of Roldan, and to 
prevent any more of the disorderly colonists from 
joining him, gave all Mdio were disposed leave to 
return to Spain in five vessels then nearly ready to 
sail. The next intelligence of Roldan, was, that 
he had gone into the vega. Columbus, on hear- 
ing this, commanded Ballester, the commander of 
Fort Conception, to be on his guard ; he more- 
over, requested Ballester to meet Roldan, and as- 
sure him of his forgiveness, if he would abandon 
his treasonable designs. Roldan. and his party, 



188 LETTER OF COLUMBUS. 

stationed themselves at the village of Bonao, 
about sixty miles from St. Domingo. 

When Miguel Ballester heard that Roldan was 
in the vega, he went to remonstrate with him. 
Roldan would make no conditions with Ballester, 
but offered to treat with Caravajal. Columbus 
was now convinced, that his situation was unsafe, 
and ordered the men at St. Domingo to appear 
under arms. Not above seventy obeyed this or- 
der, not more than forty were honestly attached 
to the admiral, and ready to defend his person 
and authority. Some pretended to be lame, and 
others sick, and some said they had friends in the 
service of Koldan, whom they would not fight 
against. 

On the i8th of October, the five vessels put to 
sea, and Columbus wrote to their majesties an 
account of the rebellion. Roldan pretended, that 
he had only taken up arms to resist the oppres- 
sions of the adelantado ; the latter, therefore, 
entreated, that Roldan might be summoned to 
Spain, to give an account of himself Columbus 
particularly requested, tiiat ecclesiastics might 
be sent out to convert the Indians, and reform the 
Spaniards ; that a man acquainted with the laws, 
should be appointed judge in the island ; and that 
he might be permitted to send to Spain such 
disorderly persons as should disturb the peace 
of the community. 

It would neither interest, nor entertain you, to 
be told all the embarrassments and mortifications 
which Columbus experienced in his protracted 
conflicts with Roldan. Open hostility between 
tJ)e contending parties, ended at length in a com- 



INDIAN SITAVES. 189 

pulsory accommodation. Columbus chose rather 
to establish peace in the colony than to contend 
for personal power. Roldan demanded a certifi- 
cate of i/ood conduct ; to be reinstated as chief 
judge ; and that to himself and his followers, cer- 
tain lands should be apportioned. Columbus 
granted all this, taking care to distribute the chief 
proprietors of these lands at convenient distances 
from each other. 

Those who received land, also had the privilege 
of employing the Indians in cultivating it. It was 
permitted to the caciques, instead of paying tri- 
bute, to furnish their subjects to labour upon the 
soil fjr the benefit of the owners. These distri- 
butions of so many Indians to a certain extent of 
ground, were called, in Spanish, repartimientos. 
The abuse which the Indians suffered from the 
cruel landholders, when there was no kind heart 
to pity, nor any law to redress their injuries, has- 
tened their extermination. ' 

Columbus would now have returned to Spain, 
to give a faithful account of the rebellion, and the 
comphances he had been forced to make, but he 
did not feel that all was safe. Two vessels sailed 
in October, and in them some of the followers of 
Roldan. Columbus knew that these were ene- 
mies and false, witnesses, and he feared they would 
misrepresent his conduct during the late difficul- 
ties. To prevent them from prejudicing their 
majesties, by the same conveyance, he sent to 
court two of his friends, Miguel Ballester, and 
Garcia de Barrantes, and entrusted them with the 
defence of his measures, and with a letter to the 
sovereigns. This letter requested that suitable 



1 90 ojeda's -expedition. 

persons might be sent to the colony, to assist him 
in the government ; and that his son, Diego, still 
a page in the royal household, might also come 
out to him, as an aid and comforter, " as he felt 
Iiimself much broken and infirm." 

Columbus, about this time, the autumn of 1499, 
was disturbed by information, that four ships had 
arrived at the western part of the island. These, 
as was afterward proved, were commanded by 
the famous Ojeda. It was not according to esta- 
blished regulations, that vessels should come to 
the island, and carry on any traffic, without report- 
ing themselves to the admiral. When Columbus 
heard that Ojeda was in the island, without paying 
any re.^pect to his authority, he thought proper to 
call him to account for his presumption. Roldan 
was appointed to this service. On the 29th of 
September, he arrived at the place where Ojeda's 
vessels lay, and found, that that daring adventurer 
was on shore, forty -five miles from his ships, and 
that he was attended by only fifteen men. who 
were employed in making cassava bread. 

Roldan, with five and twenty resolute followers, 
intercepted Ojeda's return to the ships. T4ie lat- 
ter met him fearlessly. Roldan demanded why 
he had come to the island without reporting him- 
self? Ojeda answered, that he had received a 
license from Fonseca, the superintendent of India 
affairs, to prosecute a voyage of discovery, and, 
his vessels being in distress, he had been compel- 
led to put into harbour in order to repair his ships, 
and obtain provisions It appeared, that when 
Columbus sent intelligence to Spain, of his disco- 
very of the coast of Paria, and, with it, specimens 



AMERICO VESPUCIO. 191 

of pearls, the news inflamed the desires of many 
adventurers. Ojeda then apphed to Fonseca for 
a license to undertake a voyage on his own ac- 
count, and the superintendent readily granted it, 
though it stipulated, that he should not land upon 
any territory discovered by Columbus, prior to 
1495. This condition left open to Ojeda the 
coast of Paria. The ships were fitted out at the 
cost of the adventurers, who were to pay a share 
of profits to the crown. 

Among the persons who accompanied Ojeda, 
was Americo Vespucio, whose name was after- 
ward given to the western continent. Ojeda's 
vessels sailed along the coast of South America, 
from the mouth of the Orinoco to the Gulf of Ve- 
nezuela, and from thence to Hispaniola. This 
was then the most extensive voyage that had ever 
been made. Roldan returned to St. Domingo, 
to inform the admiral of the result of his inter- 
view with Ojeda, and Ojeda navigated the coast 
of Xaragua, and landed in that province. Many 
of those who had been attached to Roldan, in his 
insurgent character, remained in this province, 
and represente(i to Ojeda, that the admiral owed 
them money, which he refused to pay. Ojeda 
had heard in Spain, from the enemies of Colum- 
bus, that he and his brother had oppressed the co- 
lonists. In consequence of such mformation, he 
believed what he now heard, and took part with 
these malcontents. He proposed to put himself 
at their head, to march with them to St. Domingo, 
and obtain redress for their grievances. 

These quarrelsome fellows, however, would not 
agree, but fell to blows among themselves, In 



192 GUEVARA. 

the midst of their discord, Roldan appeared in 
the province, attended by a force from the admi- 
ral. Ojeda, though a brave man, did not choose 
to fight without any probable advantage, and, at 
this juncture, withdrew himself from the contest, 
made up a cavalgada, or drove of Indian slaves, 
at some other district of Hispaniola, or at Porto 
Rico, and, returning safely to Spain, sold the un- 
happy creatures at ("adiz One circumstance 
which occurred to Roldan in this enterprise, de- 
serves notice When some of his former follow- 
ers were apprised, that he had come into the pro- 
vince of Xaragua with an intention to frustrate 
their rebellious purposes, they laid a plan to way- 
lay and kill him, but he disappointed them by ta- 
king care of himself How wicked and selfish 
must their^ adherence to him have been, when 
they could turn from his service and become his 
murderers ! 

I have related to you the conspiracy of Roldan, 
and the insurgent attempt ot Ojeda, but these 
were not the only oppositions to his authority, 
which disturbed the peace of Columbus. One of 
Roldan's late confederates, was Adrian de Moxi- 
ca. This man had a cousin named Don Hernan- 
do Guevara. Guevara's conduct was so disorder- 
ly, that Columbus banished him from the island, 
and, after receiving sentence, he repaired to Xa- 
ragua, in order to embark with Ojeda for Spain. 
Ojeda had just sailed, when Guevara arrived ; 
therefore, he was forced to remain. Guevara re- 
sided in the neighbourhood of Anacaona. That 
princess had a daughter called Higuaniota, with 
whom Guevara became acquainted, and whom he 



CONSPIKACY AGAINST ROLDAN. 193 

oflcred to marry. Anacaona, always an admirer 
of the Spaniards, agreed that her daughter should 
wed Guevara. Roldan forbade the young man to 
form this connexion, and Guevara, against the 
orders of Roldan, repaired to the house of Ana- 
caona, and concealed himself there. In conse- 
quence of Roldan s op})osition to hi^i attachment j 
Guevara became his violent enemy. 

After Roldan ard Coluiisbus were reconciled, 
the followers of Roldan detested the?r late leader ; 
many of them remained in Xaragua, and were 
ready to listen to Guevara, and to take part in his 
quarrels. These wretches agreed to assist Gue- 
vara in his revenge upon Roldan, They concerted 
to rise suddenly upon him, and either to kill him, 
or to put out his eyes. Roldan was apprised of 
this project in time, — and seizing Guevara and 
his accomplices, sent intelligence to Columbus of 
the whole transaction. Moxica learning that his 
cousin was a prisoner, and awaited punishment 
from the admiral, took fire at the thought ; and, 
attaching to his service men as desperate as him- 
self, " meditated not merely the rescue of his 
cousin, but the deaths of Roldan and the ad- 
miral." 

Columbus was at Fort Conception, when a 
deserter from the conspirators, brought him in- 
telligence of their designs. Prior to this, he had 
been all forbearance and lenity to his enemies ; 
but the time was come, when lenity would have 
been folly and pusillanimity. Columbus instantly 
armed himself and a few trusty servants and 
friends, and proceeded to the place where the 
leaders of the conspiracy were. These guiltv 
17 



194 DEATH OF MOXICA. 

men, unsuspicious of their danger, were not in a 
state of defence, and were seized without delay, 
and carried to Fort Conception as prisoners. 
Moxica was immediately put to death, and his 
accomplices kept in confinement. Those of the 
conspirators who were not taken, fled to Xaragua, 
but thither the adeiantado pursued them, and 
some were taken and executed, while the rest 
were effectually dispersed. 

This was a necessary severity. If the lives of 
men who meditate the destruction of the military 
power or civil government under which they live, 
are spared, and they continue to reside in the 
country, the government is in danger, it may 
sometimes be right to refuse obedience to unjust 
and tyrannical laws, and magistrates ; but those who 
rebel must alwiys expect to become objects of se- 
vere treatment, and to exact submissions, or inflict 
punishments upon those who resist them. The 
exemplary justice of Columbus produced the best 
effects in the colony. The Spaniards began 
diligently to cultivate their lands, assisted by the 
labours of the natives, and every thing gave 
assurance of settled and regular prosperity. 
Columbus had desired ever since his return to 
Hispaniola to explore the retnons of Paria, and 
to establish a fishery in the gulf, which he called, 
the Gulf of Pearls. It is melancholy to learn, 
that at the very time when he appeared to have 
bafiled his enemies, and had established a rightful 
and salutary authority in the island, he was 
destined to suffer the bitterest disappointments, 
and the most cruel indignities. 



COMPLAINTS. 196 



CHAPTER XVII. 



The disaffected persons who had returned from 
the colony to Spain, were but too successful in 
prejudicing the king against Columbus. His 
advocates, Ballester and Barrantes, had no weight 
against the representations of his enemies. The 
letters which Columbm-i addressed to the sove- 
reigns, detailed little but rebellion and disorder in 
the public affairs ; and, as you have been told, the 
people had neglected the mines and the land, so 
that the expense of supporting the colony was 
derived in great part from Spain- Many persons 
had gone out to the island on condition of being 
paid for certain services, and Columbus could 
not obtain money to satisfy their demands. Some 
of these disappointed men went home to Spain, 
where they clamoured loudly for their pay. 

These were generally people of the lowest 
class. " They found their way to the court at 
Granada. They followed the king when he rode 
out, filling the air with iheir complaints. At one 
time, about fifty of these vagabonds found their 
way into the inner court of the Alhambra, under 
the royal apartments, holding up bunches of 
grapes as the meager diet left them by their 
poverty, and railing aloud at the deceits of Co- 
lumbus, and the cruel neglect of the government. 
The two sons of Columbus happening to pass by, 
who were pages to the queen, they followed them 
with imprecations, exclaiming, ' There go the 
sons of the admiral, the whelps of him who dis- 



196 BOBADILLA. 

covered the land of vanity and delusion, the grave 
of Spanish hidalgos!'' " — gentlemen of Spain. 

All these circumstances disposed the sovereigns 
to believe that Columbus and his brothers did not 
administer the government entrusted to them, 
wisely and justly. Columbus had requested that 
a judge learned in the law, should be sent out to 
settle ditFerences, though be desired that such an 
officer's duties and privileges should in no way 
encroach upon his own authority as viceroy. 
Fenlinand, in March 1449, appointed an otficer 
who should inquire into the disturbances at His- 
paniola, and if he should find (Columbus and his 
brothers culpable, might take upon himself the 
government, and send them to Spain. You have, 
I presume, good sense enough, 'young as you are, 
to know that none but a very generous and disin- 
terested man would treat these suspected persons 
with justice, and respect ; and refiam from making 
himself their master, when he had a commission 
to do so, if he chose. Absolute power is a trust 
few men can bear without abusing it. 

Don Francisco de Bobadilla, was thus ap- 
pointed governor, and arrived at St. Domingo, 
August £'3d, 1500. Columbus was in the vega, 
regulating the confusi?»n which remained after the 
suppressi<:n of Moxica's rebellion ; the adelan- 
tado was in tlie province of Xaragua ; and Don 
Diego remained at St. Domingo, as governor in 
the adrntrafs absence. As Bobadilla entered the 
harbour, he beheld on the shore, gibbets with dead 
bodies banging upon them ; and before he landed, 
he learned that seven Spaniards had, that week, 
been hanged, and five more were awaiting the 



THE NEW GOVERNOR. 197 

same fate. Intelligence that a redresser of 
wrongs had arrived from Spain, spread every 
where, and all disaffected persons, eagerly flocked 
to tiie new governor to complain, and magnify 
their discontents. 

The next day Bobadilla attended mass, and 
met at the church Don Diego, and other honoura- 
ble men, as well as the principal part of the 
residents of St. Domingo. Vvhen the service 
was ended, Bobadilla caused his commission to 
be read. It authorized him to take the persons 
and property of whomsoever he should think 
guilty of any misdemeanour, and to imprison or 
send to Spain any such real or imputed criminal. 
Bobadilla next demanded of Don Diego, the re- 
bels whom he held in confinement. The latter 
replied it would be necessary to consult the 
admiral, and to transmit to him, then, at Fort 
Conception, a copy of Bobadilla's instructions. 
Bobadilla refused to deliver such copy, and pro- 
ceeded to read to the people other documents. 
One " ordering Columbus and his brothers to de- 
liver up all fortresses, ships, and other royal 
property ; and another, appointing him to demand 
of Columbus the payment of all debts due to the 
colonists." The last brought over every one to 
ready submission." 

Bobadilla hnving thus established his claim to 
paramount authority, and set aside Don Diego, 
again demanfled the prisoners. These rebels had 
been committed to the fortress of St. Domingo. 
This post was commanded by that Miguel Diaz, 
whose wife Catalina once governed in that place, 
and who had communicated to the adelantado 
17* 



i 9 8 REMONSTRANCE. 

the first knowledge he obtained of this region, of 
its nnines, and its superior advantages over the 
north side of the island. Diaz did not readily 
surrender the fort to Bobadilla. He had received 
his command, he saifl, from his lord, the admiral, 
and when he should return to St. Domingo, he 
would obey his orders. Bobadilla paid little 
attention to the denial of Miguel Diaz, but assail- 
ing the frail fortress with a rabble of low people, 
took possession of it, and committed the prisoners 
to the chai ge of an alguazil—-m English, a con- 
stable—one Juan de Espinosa. 

Bobadilla took up his residence in the house of 
the admiral, and seized his arms, gold, plate, 
jewels, horses, books and letters. To win the 
favour of the people, he proclaimed a general 
license, for the term of twenty years, to seek for 
gold, requiring but one eleventh, instead of one 
third, which had been required as due to govern- 
ment. At the same time, Bobadilla declared that 
Columbus and his brothers should be deprived of 
all authority, and the admiral sent home in 
chains. 

When Columbus got intelligence of these 
transactions, he conceived Bobadilla to be acting 
under a limited commission from the sovereigns, 
which he v/as transgressing on account of his 
.absence.. He therefore wrote to Bobadilla, that 
he would soon return to St. Domingo, and should 
shortly go to Spain, and that all matters of dis- 
pute should be settled in due time, requesting 
Bobadilla to refrain from all arbitrary measures, 
till they could accommodate their respective 
functions. Still Columbus was dissatisfied by this 



COLUMBUS IN CHAINS. 1 99 

extraordinary assumption of power, but soon as- 
certained that it was authorized by their majes- 
ties, for he received a summons from Bobadilla 
that he should appear before him : — with this 
sumuions was df;hvered a brief letter from the 
sovereigns, commandino; him to submit implicitly 
to Bobjidilla. ( Jolumbus did not hesitate to obey 
the royal mandate, and " departed ahiiost alone 
and unattended to ::^t, Dorninfxo." 

No sooner did Boba^lilla hear of his arrival, 
than he gave orders to have C.'olumbus put in irons, 
and imprisoned- " Shis outrage to a person of 
such dignilied and venerable appearance, and 
such eminent merit, seemed, for the time, to shock 
-even his enemies When the irons were brought, 
•every one shrunk from the task of putting them 
on him " — To till the measure of ingratitude 
meted out to him, the person who at length clasp- 
ed the manacles, was one of his own domestics. 
In this trial Columbus manifested the sublimity of 
liis character, by his exemplary patience, and his 
disdain of remonstrating with his persecutors. 
He looked calmly and confidently to the time 
when he should appear before tiie king and queen 
of Spain, and vindicate himself from all the slan- 
derous charges which had been brought against 
him. 

The principal accusations were, that Cokunbus 
had resolved to cast off the allegiance of Spain, 
and make himself sovereign of the countries he 
had discovered ; that he had inflicted unnecessary 
tasks and cruel punishments upon the Spaniards ; 
had granted short allowances of food, and kept 
back their dues ; that he had waged unjust wars 



200 ALONZO DE VILLEJO. 

willi the natives ; and had secreted pearls and 
other precious articles. His brothers were ar- 
rested and confined as accomplices with the ad- 
miral. It was an aggravation of their common 
misfortunes, that the three brothers were impri- 
sont d separately and not permitted to enjoy any 
intercourse. 

Bobaf^illa soon determined to send Columbus 
and his brothers to Spain; but while they were 
in confinement, the common people in St Do- 
mingo were allowed to express such noisy and in- 
decent triumph at their downfal, that Columbus 
apprehended they would take his life, and that 
his name would go down to posterity dishonoured, 
and without vindication. Vessels being in readi- 
ness, Alonzo de Villejo, an honourable man, was 
appointed to take charge of the prisoners, and 
conduct them to Spain. Bobadilla instructed 
Villejo when he should arrive, to deliver Colum- 
bus and his brothers to Fonseca. Villejo, attend- 
ed by a guard, went to the prison with a design 
to convey the admiral to the ship. When Co- 
lumbus beheld the officer and his attendants enter, 
" he thought it was to conduct him to the scaffold. 
* Villejo,' said he mournfully, * whither are you 
taking me ?' ' To the ship, your excellency, to 
embark,' replied the other. ' To embark !' 
repeated the admiral earnestly ; ' Villejo ! do 
you speak the truth ?' 'By the life of your 
excellency,' replied the honest officer, ' it is true.' 
With these words the admiral was comforted, and 
as one restored from death to life. 

" The caravels set sail early in October, bearing 
off Columbus, shackled like the vilest of culi^rits, 



lERNANDO COLUMBUS. 201 

amidst the hoots, and scoffs, and shouts of a mis- 
creant rabble, who took a brnta! joy in heaping 
insults on his venerable head, and, as it were, sent 
curses after him from the shores of the island he 
had so recently given to mankind Fortunately 
the voyaoff! was ftvourable and of but moderate 
duration, and was rendered less disagreeable by 
the conduct of those to whom he was given in 
custody. I'he woithy Villejo, though in the ser- 
vice of Fonseca, felt deeply moved at the un- 
worthy treatment of Colun^bus. The master of 
the caravel, Andreas Martin, was equally grieved : 
they both tjeated the admiral with profound re- 
spect and assiduous attention. They would have 
taken off his irons, but to this he would not con- 
sent. * No,' said he proudly, ' their majesties 
comivianded me by letter to suomit X(* whatever 
Bobadilla should order in their name ; by their 
authority he has put upon me these chains ; I will 
wear thecr^ until they shall order fheni to be taken 
off. and 1 will preserve ihein afterward as relics 
and mc'ti* 'rials of the reward of r.jy services.' 

" < Ho did so,' adds his yon Fernando, < { saw 
them always hanofing in his cabinet, and he re- 
quested that when he died they might be buried 
with him.' " 

When it was known in Cadiz, that Columbus 
had arrived theie, a prisoner and in chairus, the 
people of that city, and of Seville, were roused to 
indignation cit the treatment he had received. Co- 
lumbus and his brothers, on their arrival, were 
placed under a magistrate of Seville, till the will 
of their majesties concerning them should be 
made known. Bobadilla had collected a multi- 



0(J2 COLUMKUS AT (;U-\ NAOA. 

tilde of unfair docum(!nts concerning tlie prisoners, 
and sont thorn to tho sovoroij/ns As soon as ho 
was |)ermitl(^d, (Columbus despatched a private 
letter from himself to a lady of tlie court, Donna 
Juana de hi Torre. This letter contained a state- 
ment of the wronjTS he had snliered, and from it 
the sovereigns first learned how much he had 
been mjured. 

Isabella's generous heart was roused to inrlig- 
nation aj/aiiist the enemies of Columbus, and 
melted with pity for his sufferings. Bobadilla's 
statement was not yet delivered, but without wait- 
ing lor it, the king and queen wrote to Columbus, 
inviting him to court, and ordering a sum, equi- 
valent to ;f8,.'i:3a of our money, to be advanced to 
defray his" expenses. On the 17th of December, 
1500, ("olumbus appeared at the court in the city 
of Granada, " not as a man, ruined and disgraced, 
but richly dressed and attended by an honourable 
retinue. He was graciously received by their 
majesties." When the queen beheld this venera- 
ble man approach, and thought on all he had de- 
served and all he had suflert^d, she was moved to 
tears. Columbus finding himself thus kindly re- 
ceived bv his sovereigns and beholding tears m 
the benign eyes of Isabella, was unable to restrain 
his long'suppress:ed feelings; — He threw himself 
upon his knees, and f«>r some time could not utter 
a word for the violence of his tears and sobbing." 
The sovereigns expressed their disi)leasure at 
]5ol)adilla's proceedings, and took no notice of 
the pajxii's he sent to them in relation to the ad- 
miral. Columbus, after this favourable reception, 
trusted that lie should not only be vindicated to 



DISCOVERIES EXTENDED. 203 

the world, but restored to his vice-royalty, and 
that he should be enabled to return in triumph to 
St. Domingo; in this hope he was destined to 
disappointment. 

In 149o, i\w king of Spain granted a general 
license to private adventurers, to undertake voy- 
ages of discovery at their own expense Besides 
Ojeda, Pedro Alonzo Nino, who has been men- 
tioned before in this history, and Vincente I'inzon, 
who commanded the Nina, in the first voyage 
of Columbus, made more extensive voyages to 
the new world, than Columbus had yet done. 
Pinzon discovered the Maragnon, since called the 
river of Amazony. There were, besides these, 
other navigators who followed the same course, 
and one, Pedro Alvarez do Cabral, a Portuguese, 
discovered the country of Brazil, which, since 
then, has belonged to Portugal. In 1 497, Vasquez 
de Gama doubled the Cape of Good Hope ; and 
Sebastian Cabot, in the English service, discover- 
ed the northern section of the western continent 
from Newfoundland to Florida. It is worthy of 
remark- that Cabral's destination was Calicut, and 
that in endeavouring to steer west of the cairns, 
on the coast of Guinea, he came in sight of Brazil. 

The Spanish navigators all brought home some 
of the productions of the respective countries to 
which they went, and splendid accounts likewise 
of their wonderful beauty and productiveness. 
These countries formed new dominions for the 
sovereigns of Spain ; and, over all of them, Fer- 
dinand intended to establish a general government, 
of which St. Domingo was to be the metropolis. 
'J'his government was that of Avhich Columbus had 



204 BOBADILLA RECALLEB. 

been dispossessed. Ferdinand, though he admit- 
ted that Columbus v/as an injured man, and re- 
called Bobadilla, thought proper to send out ano- 
ther individual to regulate colonial affairs, before 
Coluffibus should be reinstated ; but he promised 
the admiral, that, after two yeais, his government 
should be restored to him. 

You know that Bobadilla's administration com- 
menced m rashness and violence — in disregard to 
the rights and happiness of good men, and in fa- 
vour and indulgence to the evii and selfish pas- 
sions of bad men. Selfish men never can obtain 
all they desire ; numbers wish for ihe same thing, 
and they quarrel to get possession of the thing 
they vv^ant, and hate the individual who denies 
them what he has not to give. Such were the 
consequences of Bobadiiia's misrule. But the 
quarrels of the Spaniards among themi^elves, and 
their ill-will to Bobadilla, were not the worst re- 
sult of that governor's folly and imprudence. — 
The privilege which he gave to the Spaniards to 
search for gold, and to employ the natives to assist 
them, was sadly abused. 

Some of the Spanish colonists were convicts 
taken out of prison : such persons were very unfit 
masters for the tiraid and simple islanders. These 
wretches exercised the most cruel tyranny. They 
insisted upon being attended by trains of servants. 
When they travelled, instead of using hoises and 
mules, they obliged the natives to transport them 
upon their shoulders in hamacs, with others along 
side, to bear umbrellas of palm leaves, to keep off 
the sun, and fans of feathers to cool them. In- 
telligence of all this soon reached Spain ; and the 



OVANDO APPOINTED. 205 

benevolent queen, moved at the wrongs of her 
Indian subjects, earnestly desired to recall Boba- 
dilla. To supersede him, one Nicholas de Ovan- 
do was appointed governor of Hispaniola, .and all 
other territories of those seas which had been 
claimed by the Spanish navigators. The com- 
mission of Ovando, instructed him to send home 
Bobadilla, to punish all offenders against the laws 
and against humanity, to enforce good order, and 
to promote the religious instruction of the natives. 
About this time, negro slavery in the West India 
islands commenced. After the west coast of 
Africa w^as made known to the Spanish and Por- 
tuguese, the natives of Africa sold their prisoners, 
taken in war, to the Spaniards and Portuguese. 
These brought home the negroes, and sold them 
as slaves. When it was found to be necessary, 
that the Spaniards, in their mining operations, and 
in the culture of the soil, should have many la- 
bourers to assist them, it was permitted by the so- 
vereigns of Spain, that the children of slaves, 
born in Africa, should be sent out as slaves to the 
colonists. From that time, the nations of Europe 
began to buy or steal natives of Africa, and take 
them in ship loads to the West Indies, to South 
America, and, at a later period, to the southern 
])arts of our United States. 



206 PBOJECT OP COLUMBUS. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



OvANDo was attended to Hispaniola by seventy- 
three married men with their families, all of re- 
spectable character ; and he was ordered to send 
away the idle and dissolute from the settlement. 
With this new population, were carried arms, live 
stock, and whatever was necessary to supply the 
wants of the people. One ship of the fleet of 
Ovahdo, was lost in a storm, the others arrived 
safely in St. Domingo on the 15th of April, 1602. 
Columbus remained in the city of Granada for 
many months, but he was not fitted for an idle 
life. He heard of the riches brought home from 
India to Europe by the Portuguese, since the pas- 
sage round the Cape had been accomplished, and 
he longed to procure similar benefits for Spain. 
He had observed a current of the Caribbean Sea 
to flow towards the west, and he believed that if 
he should follow its course, he should find the In- 
dian Ocean in a direction contrary to that which 
Vasquez de Gania had taken. 

When Columbus laid his plan before the sove- 
reigns, they regarded it favourably. However 
they might doubt his abilities as a civil governor, 
they could not undervalue him as the greatest na- 
vigator of the age, and they readily provided for 
this fourth voyage. In this expedition, Columbus 
was permitted to take with him his brother, the 
adelantado, and his younger son, Fernando, then 
fourteen years of age. .Tust before his departure, 



LAST VOYAGE. 207 

the sovereigns wrote him a letter, promising Mm, 
that all the benefits and privileges which had been 
ceded to himself and his descendants, in conse- 
quence of his discoveries, should be faithfully se- 
cured to them. " Besides which, they expressed 
their disposition to bestow farther honours upon 
himself, his brothers, and his children." 

On the 9th of May, 1 502, Columbus sailed from 
Cadiz, on his fourtu and last voyage of discovery. 
His squadron consisted of four small vessels. 
The crews amounted, in all, to one hundred and 
fifty men. He expected to find a passage from 
the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean. He supposed 
there was a strait near where the isthmus of Da- 
rien actually exists. Supposing the globe to be 
much smaller than it is, and Asia to extend much 
farther to the east than it does, he did not presume 
upon the existence of the Pacific Ocean. If this 
passage could have been found, Columbus design- 
ed nothing less than the circumnavigation of the 
globe He was now about sixty-six years old. 

Columbus, in (he instructions which he received 
from the sovereigns, in respect to his voyage, had 
been forbidden to touch at Hispaniola ; but, the 
condition of his principal vessel made it desirable 
for him to exchange her for a better. Such a one, 
he presumed, might be obtained from the fleet 
which had attended Ovando. You ought to be 
informed, in what manner that governor was re- 
ceived at Hispaniola. He was respectfully treated 
by Bobadilla, and the chief men of St. Domingo. 
His commission was soon made known, and his 
authority acknowledged in the colony, and Boba- 
dilla made ready to return to Spain, with the fleet 



208 bobadilla's beturn. 

of Ovando. The latter was to be accompanied 
by Roldan, and some of the disorderly persons who 
had so actively disturbed the peace of the colony. 
Among those who were to sail in the principal 
ship, was the unfortunate Guarionex, the once 
powerful cacique of the vega. He was now a 
captive, and in chains. 

Bobadiila had collected an immense amount of 
gold for the Spanish government, which was to be 
shipped in the fleet ; and other adventurers had 
amassed great quantities of the same metal, ob- 
tained by the sufferings of the unhappy natives. 
The fleet was ready for se^i, when, on the 29th of 
June, the squadron of Columbus arrived off St. 
Domingo. The admiral immediately requested of 
Ovando a vessel to supply the place of the defec- 
tive one m his possession. Ovando refused to 
grant this request ' olumbus then desired per- 
mission to remain a short time with his squadron 
in the harbour, as he foresaw one of the violent 
storms, common to those latitudes. Ovando re- 
fused this favour also. It was grievous to Co- 
lumbus, and his followers, to be denied shelter 
from the elements, in a part of the world which 
the former might almost call his own. 

Columbus, himself repulsed from a secure ha- 
ven, took a generous interest in the preservation 
of his enemies. Though the weather was fine, 
he knew the signs of an impending tempest, and 
sent a message to the governor, entreating him to 
detain the fleet until the storm should be over. 
The seamen and pilots derided this caution, and 
the fleet of Bobadiila ventured to sea. Within 
two days, the predictions of Columbus were veri- 



GUANAJA ISLA^il). 209 

lied. The storm was terrible. Many of the ships 
were lost ; some returned to St. Domingo ; and 
only one continued her voyage to Europe. Bo- 
badilla, Roldan, and Guarionex, perished, and, 
with them, were swallowed up the ill-gotten trea- 
sures gained by the miseries of the Indians. The 
squadron of Columbus did not escape unhurt, but 
no lives were lost, and, at length, they arrived safe 
at Port Herniosa, west of St. Domingo. 

The weather becoming favourable, Columbus 
steered to the southwest, and, on the 30th of July, 
he discovered the small island of Guanaja, one of 
a group east of the Gulf of Honduras. " The ade- 
lantado, with two launches full of people, landed 
on the principal island, which was extremely ver- 
dant and fertile. The inhabitants resembled those 
of the other islands, excepting that their foreheads 
were narrower. While the adelantado was on 
shore, he beheld a great canoe arriving as from a 
distant and important voyage. He was struck 
with its magnitude and contents. It was eight 
feet wide, and as long as a galley, though formed 
of the trunk of a single tree. In the centre was a 
kind of awning or cabin of palm leaves, after the 
manner of those in the gondolas of Venice, and 
sufficiently close to exclude both sun and rain. 
Under tliis sat a cacique with his wives and chil- 
dren. Twenty-five Indians rowed the canoe, and 
it was filled with all kinds of articles of the manu- 
facture and natural production of the adjacent 
countries. It is supposed that this bark came 
from the province of Yucatan, which is about forty 
leagues distant from this island. 
1 8* 



210 NATIVES OP YUCATAN. 

" The Indians in the canoe appeared to have no 
fear of the Spaniards, and readily went along side 
of the admiral's caravel. Columbus was over- 
joyed at thus having brought to him at once, with- 
out trouble or danger, a collection, as it were, of 
specimens of all the important articles of this 
part of the new world. He examined with great 
curiosity and interest the contents of the canoe. 
Among various utensils and weapons similar to 
those already found among the natives, he per- 
ceived others of a much superior kind. There 
were hatchets for cutting wood, formed not of 
stone but copper ; wooden swords, with channels 
on e^ich side of the blade, in which sharp flints 
were firmly fixed by cords made of the intestines 
of fishes ; being the same kind of sword after- 
ward found among the Mexicans. There were 
copper bells, and other articles of the same metal, 
together with a rude kind of crucible m which to 
melt it ; various vessels and utensils, neatly form- 
ed of clay, of marble, and of hard wood ; sheets 
and mantles of cotton, worked and dyed with va- 
rious colours ; great quantities of cacao, a fruit 
as yet unknown to the Spaniards, but which, as 
they soon found, the natives held in great estima- 
tion ; using it both as food and money. 

" There was a beverage, also, extracted from 
maize, or Indian corn, resembling beer. Their 
provisions consisted of bread made from maize, 
and roots of various kinds, similar to those of His- 
paniola. From among these articles, Columbus 
selected such as were important to send as speci- 
mens to Spain, giving the natives European trin- 
kets in exchange, with which they were highly sa- 



CAPE CIEACIAS A DIGS. 21 1 

tisiicd. Tliey appeared to manifest neitlier asto- 
nishment, nor alarm, when on board of the ves- 
sels, and surrounded by people who must have 
been so strange and wonderful to them. The 
women wore mantles, with which they wrapped 
themselves, like the female moors of Granada, and 
the men had clotlis of cotton around their Joins." 
I have told }'OU, that the place where Columbus 
expected to discover a strait, was where the 
isthmus of Darien was afterward discovered 
This lies southeast of the islands of Guanaja. 
Thither he directed his course. At one place on 
the coast of Honduras, the adelantado landed, 
and took possession in the name of their Catholic 
majesties. But, during forty days, the squadron 
was often in imminent danger, from a succession 
of violent storms. They arrived on the 14th of 
September, at a cape where a favourable change 
in the weather occurred, and the admiral, to com- 
memorate this sudden relief from toil and peril, 
gave to the cape the name of Gracias a Dios, or 
Thanks to God. 

After doubling the cape, Columbus sailed di- 
rectly south, along what is now called the Mus- 
quito Shore. Finding his ships much injured by 
the recent storms, Columbus cast anchor between 
an island and the main land, immediately opposite 
to an Indian village, named Cariari, situated oq 
the bank of a beautiful river. The inhabitants of 
this place, at first sight of the Europeans, appear- 
ed to be afraid of them, and prepared to defend 
themselves with bows, arrows, and war-clubs. 
But gifts from the admiral, soon disarmed them, 
and they became perfectly assured and friendly. 



212 COSTA EICA. 

" For several days, the squadron remained at 
this place ; during which time, the ships were : 
examined and repaired, and the crews enjoyed re- 
pose and the recreation of the land. The ade- 
lantado, with a band of armed men, made excur- 
sions on shore to collect information. There was 
no pure gold to be met with here ; all their orna- 
ments were of guanin ; but the natives assured 
the adelantado, that in proceeding along the 
coast, the ships would soon arrive at a country 
where gold was in great abundance. In examining 
one of the villages, the adelantado found, in a 
large house, several sepulchres. One contained 
a human body, embalmed. In another, there 
were two bodies wrapped in cotton, and so pre- 
served as to be free from any disagreeable odour. 
They were adorned with the ornaments which 
had been most precious to them when hving ; and 
the sepulchres were decorated with rude carvings 
and paintings, representing various animals, and 
sometimes what appeared to be intended for por- 
traits of the deceased. Throughout most of the 
savage tribes, there appears to have been great 
veneration for the dead, and an anxiety to preserve 
their remains undisturbed." 

On the 5th of October, the squadron sailed 
from Cariari, and pursued an easterly course 
along what is at present called Costa Rica, (or 
the Rich Coast.) All along this coast to Vera- 
trua, abundance of gold was exhibited by the na- 
tives, and readily exchanged for the trifles which 
the Spaniards usually gave for it. These Indians 
were hostile to the strangers at first, but their 
good will was easily purchased. Their lansfua^e. . 



rORTO BELLO. 213 

however, was so different from that o( the island- 
ers, that Columbus was unable to understand it, 
and their signs were interpreted by the Spaniards 
as intimations of a country of great riches to the 
west — it might have been Peru. Columbus con- 
ceived, tliat the readiest way to get to that rich 
country, was through his imaginary strait, so he 
neglected to explore Veragua, and sailed in search 
of it. 

Columbus, proceeding eastward, discovered, on 
the 2d of November, an excellent harbour, which 
he named Porto Bello. " It is one of the few 
places, along this coast, which retain the appella- 
tion given it by the illustrious discoverer." Here 
the vessels were pierced in all parts by worms, 
which abound in those warm seas. They are of 
the size of a linger, and bore through the stoutest 
planks and timbers, and soon destroy any ships 
that are not well coppered. Columbus stopped at 
different harbours in this easterly course, but dis- 
covered no country so rich in gold as Veragua, 
though he found some tracts more truly enriched 
by nature ; " Not covered with thick forests, but 
open and cultivated, with houses within a bow 
shot of each other ; surrounded by fruit trees ; 
groves of palms, and fields producing maize, ve- 
getables, and the delicious pine-apple ; so that the 
whole neighbourhood had the mingled appearance 
of orchard and garden." 

After the discovery of Porto Bello, Calumbus, 
for a short time, pursued the search for the strait, 
but no indications of it appearing, he thought it 
best to return to Veragua. The passage thither 
"\vas long and dangerous, being interrupted by the 



214 THE RIVER BELEN'. 

violent storms peculiar to that part of the globe. 
Two rivers of that country, the Veragua, and the 
Belen, empty themselves into the sea near each 
other. The Belen, having the greatest depth, and 
the most convenient anchorage, Columbus, on the 
9th of January, 1503, stationed his vessels near 
its mouth, and endeavoured to obtain some know- 
ledge of the neighbouring country and its inhabit- 
ants. The name of the cacique was Quibia, and, 
with him and his people, the adelantado com- 
menced a friendly traffic, exchanging worthless 
baubles for gold. Soon after, the adelantado, 
and a number of men with him, explored the do- 
minions of several of the petty princes of the 
country, and found in the whole tract, abundance 
of gold. 

Columbus thought this a suitable place to found 
a settlement, and establish a mart for future trade, 
in gold, and other products of a vast and rich 
country. On consulting with his brother, it was 
agreed, that the adelantado should remain here 
with eighty men, and Columbus should return to 
Spain, to procure other colonists. The adelan- 
tado and his men, took up their residence not far 
from the river Belen, and commenced building 
houses. The houses were formed of wooden 
poles, driven into tlie ground, and covered with 
the large and thick leaves of the palm-tree. But 
an unforeseen circumstance hindered the depar- 
ture of Columbus. The Belen was sometimes 
swollen with torrents, caused by rains, which 
rushed into it with such violence, that the ships 
were in danger ; and, afterward, the waters, 
pouring out into the sea. left the bed of the river 



DIEGO MEKDEZ. 215 

SO shallow, that the vessels in it would not float, 
but stuck in the sands. Thus fixed, Columbus 
was obliged to wait till the return of rain should 
enable him to get to sea. 

In the meantime, the cacique Quibia, more sa- 
gacious in his anticipations than the islanders, was 
displeased with this encroachment upon his terri- 
tory ; and communicated his uneasiness to the 
neighbouring caciques ; persuading them, at the 
same time, to join with him to surprise and burn 
the ships and houses, and make a general massa- 
cre of the Spaniards. No suspicion of such a 
design was entertained by the admiral and his 
brother, till Diego Mendez, a man ardently devo- 
ted to the interests of the admiral, and the success 
of his plans, carefully observing the motions of 
the Indians, suspected them of hostile intentions. 
Mendez informed Columbus of his suspicions, 
and offered to go into the Indian camp, which lay 
on the river Veragua, to make observations. This 
was a dangerous service One defenceless man, 
in the midst of a multitude of provoked savages, 
could hardly expect to escape with his life. But 
there are men who love danger, because it calls 
into exercise the strongest energies of their minds. 

Proceeding along the shore, about three miles 
from the river, Mendez saw collected a thousand 
warriors, in battle array, and supplied with provi- 
sions, as for an expedition. Mendez hastened 
back to the admiral with intelligence of what he 
had observed. Columbus did not readily believe 
that all this preparation was intended to attack 
him and his people. To ascertain that fact, 
Mendez set out once more, accompanied by a man 



:jllj HUIBIA. 

named Rodrigo de Escobar. When they came to 
the mouth of the Veragua, they met two canoes 
of Indians. Mendez questioned these by signs, 
and learned from them, that his suspicions were 
true. Mendez then requested the Indians to con- 
vey him up the river, to the residence of Quibia. 
They told him, that Quibia would kill him ; ne- 
vertheless, he persevered, and the Indians landed 
him at the village of the cacique. 

Mendez found the whole place in a bustle. 
When they perceived the Spaniards approaching 
the dwelling of Quibia, the Indians would have 
stopped them, but Mendez, offering them a few 
presents, they were allowed to proceed. Mendez 
had heard that Quibia had been wounded in the 
leg by an arrow, and, giving himself out for a sur- 
geon, intimated that he had come to cure tho 
wound. The mansion of the cacique was in an 
open place, and surrounded by three hundred 
heads of warriors, who had been slain in battle. 

" Undismayed by so dismal an avenue to the 
dwelling of this grim warrior, Mendez and his 
companion crossed the place ; when a number of 
women and children, who were assembled round 
the door, began to utter piercing cries, and fled 
with terror into the house. 

<* A young and powerful Indian, son to the ca- 
cique, salHed forth in a violent rage, and struck 
the intruding Mendez a blow that made him recoil 
for several paces. The latter endeavoured to 
pacify him by gentle words ; and, taking out a 
box of ointment, assured him that he only came 
for the purpose of curing his father's wound. It 
was with great difficulty that Mendez hilled his 



aUIBIA SEIZED. 217 

suspicions, and pacified his rage, making him pre- 
sents of a comb, scissors, and looking-glass, and 
teaching him and his Indians how to use them in 
cutting and arranging their hair, with whi(ih they 
were greatly delighted." 

Mendez, with all his artifice, was unable lo 
enter the house of Quibia, but he learned from 
an [ndian who had become attached to the white 
men, that the neighbouring chiefs had resolved 
upon their destruction. After this was ascertained, 
strong guards were appointed to keep v/atch over 
the settlement and the squadron ; and the adelan- 
tado determined to attack the cacique without 
loss of time. The Indians, perhaps through fear 
of the fire arms of the Spaniards, did not 
meditate an open attack upon them, and avoided 
as much as possible the appearance of being 
prepared for one. The adelantado taking with 
liim seventy-four followers well armed, proceeded 
to the house of Quibia. That chief heard that 
this party were in sight, and sent out to request 
that they would not enter his habitation, saying, 
he would meet them. 

When he was sufficiently near, the adelantado 
perceived Quiba alone at the door of his house. 
At the desire of the cacique, Don Bartholomew 
advanced singly ; but he charged Diego Mendez, 
and four of his trusty companions, when he should 
make a signal, to come on and seize the chief. 
After a little discourse with Quibia. by means of 
an Indian interpreter, the adelantado made the 
sign agreed upon, and the chief was seized, and 
bound hand and foot. The main body of the 
Spaniards next surrounded the house, and took 
19 



218 (iUIBlA ESCAPES. 

those within it. These were the wives and 
children of Quibia, and some of his principal 
subjects. No blood was shed, but the distress of 
the poor savages at seeing their leader a prisoner, 
was extreme. They filled the air with their cries, 
and offered a great treasure for the ransom of 
their prince. 

Quibia was too dangerous an enemy to be 
released, so the adelantado was deaf to their 
entreaties. He took gold and other articles from 
the cacique's house, to tJie amount of 1282 dol- 
lars of the present time. Quibia was entrusted 
to the care of Juan Sanchez, the pilot of the 
squadron, who was to bring him to the ship. 
This Juan Sanchez was a great boaster, bragging 
that if the cacique should get out of his hands, 
he would give his comrades leave to pluck out 
the hairs of his beard one by one. Quibia was 
put on board a boat, and tied fast to one of the 
benches, in order to be rowed from the mouth of 
the Veragua to the ship. He complained of the 
tightness of the cords, and Sanchez, more kind 
than cautious, loosened them. This was what 
Quibia wanted, to enable him to escape. Th& 
night was dark, and when Sanchez did not ob- 
serve him, the Indian watching his opportunit}', 
plunged into the river. He was accustomed to 
diving, could not be seen in the night, and con- 
trived to make the shore without being caught. 
The rest of the Indians were afterward conveyed 
to the ships. 

The admiral, with three of the ships, passe(; 
out of the river with the intention of sailing for 
S^pain. Don Bartholomew remained at Veragua, 



BIEGO TRISTAN KILLED. 219 

retaining one of the vessels for the use of the 
settlement. Columbus, on account of adverse 
winds, remained at anchor near the shore ; and 
being in want of wood and water, sent a boat 
belonging to one of the vessels, and commanded 
by Diego Tristan, a captain of the ship, to obtain 
the necessary supplies. Quibia, when he returned 
to his house, and beheld the desolation which 
surrounded it, and learned that the vessels in 
which his wives and children were confined, 
were carrying them away, he knew not whither, 
was transported with fury and despair, and could 
only gratify his feelings, by killing the white men 
who remained behind. Collecting a few of his 
dispersed followers, the unfortunate cacique, 
secretly approached the Spanish settlement, and 
made a furious attack upon it. But the keen 
edges of Spanish swords, and the fury of a blood- 
hound, which the Spaniards let loose upon them, 
sent the poor Indians howling through the forest. 
Several Indians were killed, and others were 
wounded. In this engagement one Spaniard was 
killed. 

Diego Tristan saw this battle from his boat in 
the river, notwithstanding which, he ascended 
three miles above the settlement to a place where 
the water was fresh. There he was seen by the 
Indians, who darted from the woods, manned their 
light canoes, and surrounded the boat^almost in a 
moment. Yells, and the blasts of conch shells, 
resounded on every side, and darts were hurled 
in every direction. Tristan, and all the men with 
him, except one, were killed. One Juan de 
Nova, a cooper of Seville, fell over-board in the 



220 DISTRESS OF THE SPAINIARUS. 

action, dived under the water, and afterward 
swam to the bank of the river. There he con- 
cealed himself, and shortly after, conveyed tidings 
to the adelantado of the massacre of his com- 
rades. 

This intelligence filled the Spaniards with 
horror. They resolved at once, to seize the 
vessel which had been left for their use, and to 
follow the admiral ; but the rivtr was again 
shallow, and a boat which was sent forth to bear 
intelhgence of the disaster to Columbus, was 
driven back by a heavy sea, and boisterous winds. 
The Indians, made confident by their recent 
victory, were heard every day at shorter distances, 
and in larger numbers round the settlement, 
blowing their conches, and beating their rude war 
drums. The adelantado no longer felt any 
security in the present defence of the place ; 
therefore he caused a rude and slight fortress to 
be constructed of casks, chests, and similar 
articles. In this the Spaniards entrenched them- 
selves, having mounted in a proper manner, two 
small pieces of artillery, to keep oflf the enemy. 

During this season of peril to the colonists, 
Columbus and his crews were not much more 
safe or comfort;il>le. 'I'lie admiral could not ac- 
count for the prolonged absence of Diego Tris- 
tan ; and a dismal circumstance occurred about 
this time in one of the ships. The family and 
household of Quibia had been detained in one of 
the vessels, but the forecastle, into which they 
were put, not being well fastened, was one night 
forced open by some of the strongest among the 
prisoners, and a considel-able muuber of them 



FORTITUDE OF THE ADMIEAl. 221 

plunged into the sea, and swam to the shore. 
The alarm being given, those who had not yet 
escaped, were forced back into the forecastle, a 
little apartment in the vessel ; and the hatchway, 
or opening was thoroughly secured. In the 
morning, when the Spaniards visited the prisoners, 
they were all found dead. By means of ropes, 
and in other ways, these wretched people had 
terminated their sufferings. 

This shocking event was grievous to the ad- 
miral ; and his ignorance of the fate of Tristan, 
and of the condition of the adelantado and his 
men ; and the impossibility of proceeding in his 
voyage till intelligence could be obtained, made 
him truly wretched, — though even in this state, 
his sufferings were alleviated by a firm belief, that 
" trouble comes not from the ground," and that 
God, who suffers all the evils that afflict the 
children of men, can, and will, in his own way 
and time, deliver them from all tlieir sufferings. 
While things were in this state, Pedro Ledesma, 
a pilot of Seville, and a man of great strength 
and courage, offered to swim ashore, make his 
way on foot to the settlement, and learn the worst 
that had happened. 

19- 



222 LEDESMA. 



CHAPTER XIX. 



You have been told that a boat v/hich attempted 
to pass from the settlement to the ships, had been 
forced back by the violence of the waves. This 
boisterous state of the sea continued, and pre- 
vented any communication ; but Ledesma having 
seen the fugitive Indians encounter and overcome 
this rough sea, generously offered to make the 
same attempt, that he might relieve the fears of 
Columbus and his men His offer was gladly 
accepted by Columbus, and Ledesma being con- 
veyed as far as safety would permit, " stripping 
himself, plunged into the sea, and after buffeting 
for sometime with the breakers, sometimes rising 
upon their surges, sometimes buried beneath 
them, and dashed upon the sand, succeeded in 
reaching the shore." 

When at last Ledesma reached the settlement, 
the Spaniards surrounded him with frantic impa- 
tience. Each eager to hear from the squadron, and 
striving who should be heard, as they related the 
sad story of their dangers and fears, and declared 
their resolution to abandon the settlement. The 
hardy Ledesma having heard of the death of 
Tristan and his men, and all the calamities which 
had come U[)on his countrymen, and having con- 
versed particularly with the adelantado, set out 
upon his perilous return, which was fortunately 
accomplished. Columbus on receiving this in- 
telligence, was in some measure relieved, even by 
the certainty of misfortune ; but days of painful 



•JOLUMIJUS LEAVES VEKAGUA. 223 

suspense, in respect to the removal of the 
colonists, followed the return of Ledesma. 

It was necessary that intelligence of the dis- 
covery of Veragua, should be conveyed to Spain ; 
and it was unsafe to leave the colony in its pre- 
sent state, — -therefore, Columbus judged it best to 
take off the adelantado and his m.en. On the 
ninth day after Ledesma's return, the weather 
was calm, and communication between the ships 
and the land became easy, though it was imprac- 
ticable to float the vessel which had been left in 
the river. By the means of some canoes and 
spars tied together, so as to form a raft, the men 
of the settlement, and the better part of their 
property, were conveyed to the ships. This 
transportion occupied two days. The most ac- 
tive man employed in it, was Diego Mendez, and 
as some recompense for his extraordinary exer- 
tions, Columbus gave him the command of the 
vessel made vacant by the death of Diego Tristan. 

When the Spaniards of the settlement were 
safe on board the ships, nothing could equal the 
mutual joy of themselves and their former as- 
sociates ; and they never thought of the hardships 
which awaited them. Towards the end of April, 
.1603, Columbus set sail from the coast of 
Veragua, intending to make the best of his way 
to Hispaniola, there to refit his ships, and after- 
ward to continue his course to Europe. This 
intention was sadly frustrated. Tempests, in 
which, to use an expression of Columbus, " it 
seemed that the world would dissolve," drove the 
crazy vessels upon a raging sea, till the 23d of 
June. During that time, one of the vessels be- 



224 VESSELS STRANDED. 

come unfit for service, was abandoned, and the 
crew divided among those of the other two ships. 

On the 23d of June, the vessels had become 
so crazy, that Columbus, then on the coast of 
Jamaica, was forced to put into a harbour of that 
island, and to fall upon some plan to inform the 
governor of Hispaniola of their condition, and 
to request of him some vessels instead of those 
which were no longer able to stem the winds and 
waves. These vessels were ready to sink, and 
Columbus had them run aground and fastened 
together, side by side, and fitted up for the oc- 
cupation of the people who were on board, until 
means could be obtained of quitting the island. 
The men were forbidden to go on shore only as 
they were ordered, and they were commanded to 
avoid all provocation of the Indians, as the food 
of the shipwrecked Spaniards, who had already 
suffered much for want of provisions, was entirely 
to be procured from the supplies which could be 
obtained of the natives. 

It was soon discovered that the immediate 
neighbourhood of the ships, would not afford 
food enough for the subsistence of the Spaniards, 
and they began to feel themselves in danger of 
famine. In their distress, Diego Mendez proposed 
to take three men, and proceed to the interior of 
the island, and there make an agreement with the 
caciques for the regular supply of the ships, 
offering knives, combs, and other articles in ex- 
change for the productions of the country. The 
Indians readily consented to these terms. Mendez 
having made these arrangements, sent back his 



DIEGO MENDEZ. Xi^5 

companions to the ships, and determined to ex- 
plore the coast of the island alone. 

Mendez requested of the cacique two Indians 
to accompany him, one to carry his food, and 
another the cotton hamac, which he suspended 
from the branches of trees when he slept. With 
these he pushed resolutely forward until he 
reached the eastern extremity of Jamaica. Here 
he found a powerful cacique of the name of 
Amegro. He and the cacique became great 
friends, exchanging names as was a custom of 
the Indians, between persons intimately united. 
Of Amegro, Mendez bought an excellent canoe, 
" for which he gave a splendid brass basin, a short 
frock or cassock, and one of the two shirts w^hich 
formed his stock of hnen. The cacique furnished 
him with six Indians to navigate his bark, and 
they parted mutually well pleased." Mendez 
reached the ships in safety, and was cordially 
received by Columbus. 

The Indians fulfilled their engagements to 
supply the Spaniards with food, and for a time 
the latter felt no want. Their situation how^ever, 
was extremely uncomfortable. Confined to the 
wrecks of their ships, without any employment, 
they suffered many privations and fears, and had 
need of more patience than they possessed, to 
endure their hard condition. Columbus was 
exceedingly anxious to be delivered from this 
weary bondage = But how should they procure 
relief ? The distance from Jamaica to His- 
paniola, was one hundred and twenty miles across 
a gulf swept by contrary currents. From the 
humanity of the jrovernor, he might expect assis- 



22G MENDEZ AND COLUMBUS. 

tance, but who would trust himself to a frail 
canoe, and hazard his life to rescue his country- 
men ? 

The bold character of Diego Mendez, and the 
possession of his little canoe, was the only hope 
of Columbus. Mr. Irving in a very interesting 
manner, relates the discourse they held together, 
concerning this enterprise. 

" Diego Mendez, my son," said the venerable 
admiral, " nobody of all those I have here, un- 
derstands the great peril in which we are placed, 
excepting you and myself. We are few in num- 
ber, and these savage Indians are many and of 
fickle and irritable natures. On the least provo- 
cation, they may throw firebrands from the shore, 
and consume us in our straw-thatched cabins. 
The arrangement which you have made with them 
for provisions, and which at present they fulfil so 
cheerfully, to-morrow they may break, in their 
caprice, and may refuse to bring us any thing ; 
nor have we the means to compel them by force, 
but are entirely at their pleasure. I have thought 
of a remedy, if it meets with your views. In this 
canoe which you have purchased, some one may 
pass over to Hispaniola, and procure a ship, by 
which we may all be delivered from this great 
peril into which we have fallen. Tell me your 
opinion in the matter." 

Diego Mendez repUed nearly as follows : « I 
well know our danger. Senior. — To pass from 
this island to Hispaniola in so small a vessel as a 
canoe, is not only difficult, I fear it is impossible. 
I know not a man who would engage in so peril- 
ous an adventure.'' ', 



MEKDE^ XKJ) COLUMBUS. 227 

Columbus did not answer, but lie looked at 
Mendez as if he would have said, no other man 
than yourself would undertake it, but your extra- 
ordinary hardihood might perform this eminent 
service for us. 

Perceiving the admiral's solicitude, Mendez 
added, " Senior, I have exposed my life to pre- 
serve you, and all those who are here, and God 
has graciously brought me safe out of all dangers ; 
but some say that your excellency gives me these 
hazardous services, because I seek the honour of 
them, and there are other men who could perform 
them as well as L I beg therefore, you would 
summon all the people, and would propose this 
enterprise to them. If any man desires, let him 
execute it, but if all should decline it, then you 
must command me." 

The admiral, willing to gratify Mendez, and 
glad of his implied consent to the undertaking, 
the next day assembled the crew, and submitted 
the proposition to them. Every one shuddered at 
the thought of it, pronouncing it the height of 
temerity. 

Mendez then stepped forward, and addressing 
llic admiral said, " Senior, I have but one hfe to 
lose, I will gladly risk it for your good, and the 
hves of all here present." 

Columbus upon this, em.braced and thanked 
him, and proceeded to fit him out for his hazardous 
voyage. Mendez tarred his canoe, furnished it 
with a mast and sail, and put in provisions for 
himself, another Spaniard, and six Indians. Co- 
lumbus entrusted to him, one letter to Ovando, 
tjDd another to the king and queen ; for Mendezj 



228 MENDEZ RETUii3..<. 

if he should reach Hispaniola in safety, was 
directed to take passage in the first ship bound 
for Spain. Columbus detailed all his misfortunes 
to the sovereigns, entreated that a vessel might be 
sent to convey him to Europe, and described in 
glowmg colours the natural wealth of Veragua ; 
suggesting that it ought immediately to be settled, 
for the advantages that would accrue to Spain 
from the riches of its mines ; and intimating that 
the conversion of the natives was a service due to 
God. 

The despatches being ready, Mendez and his 
comrades embarked, and departed in an easterly 
course. They proceeded to the end of the island, 
where they were detained by rough weather. In 
this situation they were surrounded by the Indians, 
and carried off into the woods, to a distance of 
three miles from the shore, the natives taking with 
them whatever they could find in the canoe. 
These Indians would have killed the two Spa- 
niards, but they fell to quarrelling among them- 
selves about the division of the spoils taken with 
the prisoners. Mendez took advantage of their 
altercation, and when the Indians did not notice 
him, ran ofi" as fast as he could, and, at length, 
found his way to the canoe. He was alone, but 
springing into his little bark, he rowed himself to 
the harbour, and arrived after fifteen days absence. 

Columbus rejoiced in the escape of the faithful 
Mendez, though he was grieved at the failure of 
his message. Mendez, no way daunted by the 
hardships he had suffered, offered to make a second 
attempt, if a number of men, sufficient to protect 
him from the natives, would proceed on foot along 



3IENDEZ AIVD FIESCO. 229 

die coast to the end of the island, while he should 
navigate his small ves8ol near the shore. Barto- 
lomeo Fiesco, a Genoese, a worthy man, and much 
attached to Columbus, was associated with Men- 
dez in the second expedition Two canoes were 
fitted out, m which went ten Indians, and six Spa- 
niards. The adelantado was at the head of the 
troop which protected them along shore, and they 
reached the end of the island, unmolested by the 
Indians. Here they took leave of each other, and 
Mendez proceeded on his voyage. 

Mendez and Fiesco had not long been gone, 
when the crews of Columbus began to grow sickly. 
They were in want of every comfort, and had no 
thing to do but to sit upon their dreary hulks, and 
look upon the water — straining their eyes to dis- 
cern the canoe, if it might be returning ; and, 
being disappointed, to wonder why it stayed, and 
to repine, because they presumed it was lost, and 
they were left to perish. Columbus was ill of the 
gout, and worn out with fatigue : his men had no 
consideration for him, and even accused him as 
the author of their misfortunes. Two of the offi- 
cers of Columbus, Francisco and Diegc* de Porras, 
encouraged these discontents, persuaded the men 
that Columbus was too o!d to direct them wisely, 
and that they ought to take possession of some 
canoes v/hich he had purchased of the Indians, 
and depart in them for Spain. 

On the 2d of .fanuary, 1504, Porras entered the 
small cabin, where the Admiral was confined to 
his bed by the gout, and told him in an insolent 
manner, what he and others were resolved upon. 
The admiral remonstrated, endeavouring to con- 
20 



230 PORRAS. 

vince him of his folly, in making such an attempt. " 
But Porras, far from acknowledging the wisdom, 
or the authority of the admiral, exclaimed, in a 
voice so loud, that he was heard all over the ship — 
" I am for Castile ! those who choose, may follow 
me!" Shouts immediately rose from all sides — 
" I will follow you ! and I, and I !" As many of 
the crew as consented to this desperate plan, 
sprang upon the most conspicuous parts of the 
ship, brandished their weapons, and vociferated, 
« To Castile ! to Castile 1" threatening the life of 
the admiral, and some demanding of Porras what ^ 
they should do. | 

The Porras brothers were not more wise than loy- 1 
al. They directed their followers to the canoes, and 
ordered them to take along what provisions they 
could find. Forty-eight men abandoned the ships, 
and attached themselves to Porras. Those who re- 
mained with Columbus, were his principal officers, 
a few faithful adherents, and many more sick and 
disabled men. These were deeply afilicted with 
the mutiny and departure of their comrades, but 
much as Columbus was grieved by this event, he 
comforted those who continued in the ships, ad- j 
monishing them, that God had never forsaken, and j 
would still sustain them. 

Porras, and his infatuated crew, coasted along . 
the shore, stopping and landing frequently, robbing 
the Indians wherever they went, and telling them 
they might go to Columbus for pay, and might 
kill him, if he should deny them. Having reach- 
ed the end of the island, these mutineers attempt- 
ed the passage to Hispaniola, but after making 
two unsuccessful attempts, they returned to Ja- 



STRATAGEM OF COLrMBUS. 23! 

maica, and went roving about the island, commit- 
ting all the abuses upon the Indians that they had 
power to do. While these wicked men were doing 
all the harm they could, the excellent Columbus 
exhibited his usual piely, patience, and benevo- 
lence. Relieved from the presence of the more 
disorderly part of his crew, he was enabled to 
bring the others under wholesome discipline, and 
to make them submit to their unfortunate circum- 
stances. 

These unhappy circumstances, were soon ag- 
gravated by a failure in the supply of food — the 
Indians, never overstocked, at length neglected to 
provide what they had agreed to furnish. The 
scarcity daily increased, and the Indians, learning 
the art of making bargains, demanded a larger 
quantity of European articles, for such provisions 
as they brought In this extremity, Columbus 
was forced to practice a deception. 

•* From his knowledge of astronomy, he ascer- 
tained, that within three days, there would be a 
total eclipse of the moon, in the early part of the 
night. He sent, therefore, an Indian of the Island 
of Hispaniola, who served as his interpreter, to 
summon the principal caciques to a great confer- 
ence, appointing for it the day of the eclipse. 
When all were assembled, he told them, by his in- 
terpreter, that he and his followers werq the wor- 
shippers of a deity who lived in the skies That 
this deity favoured such as did well, but punished 
all transgressors. That, as they must all have no- 
ticed, he had protected Diego Mendez and his 
companions in their voyage, they having gone iu 
obedience to the orders of their commander ; but 



232 STRATAGEM OF COLUMBUS. 

that, on the other hand, he had visited Porras and 
his companions with all kinds of crosses and af- 
flictions, in consequence ot their rebellion. That 
this great deity was incensed agaiiist the Indians 
who had refused or neglected to furnish his faith- 
ful worshippers with provisions, and intended to 
chastise them with famine and pestilence. Lest 
they should disbelieve this warning, a signal would 
be given that very night, in the heavens. They 
would behold the moon change its colour and 
gradually lose its light ; a token of the fearful 
punishment which av/aited them." 

Many of the Indians were alarmed at the so- 
lemnity of this prediction ; others treated it with 
scoffing^ They all, however, awaited with solici- 
tude, the coming of the night. When they beheld 
a dark shadow stealing over the moon, they began 
to tremble. Their fears increased with the pro- 
gress of the eclipse ; and, when they saw myste- 
rious darkness covering the whole face of nature, 
there were no bounds to their terror. Seizing 
upon whatever provisions they could procure, they 
hurried to the ships, uttering cries and lantenta- 
tions. They threw themselves at the feet of Co- 
lumbus, implored him to intercede with his God 
to withhold the threatened calamities, and as«;ured 
him that thenceforth they would biinsj him what- 
ever he required. Columous tohi them he uould 
retire and commune with the deity. Shutting 
himself up in his cabin, he remained there during 
the increase of the eclipse ; the forests and shores 
all the while resounding with the bowlings and 
supplications of the savages. When the eclipse 
was about to diminish, he came forth and inform- 



HIS SUCCESS. J^O.J 

ed the natives, that he had interceded for them 
with his God, who. on condition of their fulfiUing 
their promises, had deigned to pardon them ; in 
sign of which, he would withdraw the darkness 
from the moon. When the Indians saw that pla- 
net restored presently io its brightness, and rolling 
in all its beauty through the firmament, they over- 
whelnied the admiral with thanks for his inter- 
cession, and repaired to their homes, joyful at 
liaving escaped such great disasters They now 
regarded Columbus with awe and reverence, as a 
man in the peculiar favour and confidence of the 
deity, since he kniw upon earth what was passing 
in the heavens. They hastened to propitiate him 
with gifts ; supplies again arrived daily at the har- 
bour, and, from that time forward, there was no 
want of provisions.'- 



20=' 



234 DIEGO DE ESCOPAR. 



CHAPTER XX. 

You would doubtless like to hear something from 
Diego Mendez, Eight months elapsed, and no 
intelligence from him readied his poor countrymen 
at Jamaica. They were almost worn out with 
hope deferred, when, a vessel was seen at a dis- 
tance, approaching the harbour. "^Fhe Spaniards 
were transported with joy, and. at length a boat 
put forth from the strange vessel and rowed to- 
wards them. When the boat came along side of 
the ships, one Diego- de Escobar, formerly an 
enemy of Columbus, und a confederate in Roldan's 
conspiracy, was discerned in it. This man deli- 
vered a letter from Ovando to Columbus, and a 
present ot some Wine and bacon. 

The letter stated that there was then no vessel 
at St. Domingo suitable for the use of Columbus, 
but that orie should be sent to him as soon as pos- 
sible. Escobar, requested the admiral, if it were 
his will, to write a letter to Ovando in reply, as 
soon as should be convenient, as he had been in- 
structed immediately to return to St. I omingo. 
This abrupt departure was a severe disappoint- 
ment to the Spaniards. 'J'he tardiness of Ovando 
in reheving Columbus is not easily accounted for. 
It may be, that knowing he held the government 
which had belonged to the admiral, he appre- 
hended, if Columbus should return to St. Do- 
mingo, and reside there till a vessel could be got 



TIIi; ISLAND OE KAVASA. 235 

ready for his transportation to Spain, the people 
would take part with Columbus, and the conten- 
tions which had disturbed the colony would be re- 
newed ; and he chose rather, that Columbus should 
continue where he was, until a direct conveyance 
to Europe might be sent him. 

Diego Mendez reached Cape Tiburon on the 
fourth day after he had taken leave of the adelan- 
tado and his men This passage was painful and 
dangerous. " There was no wind, the sky was 
without a cloud, and the sea perfectly calm, the 
heat therefore became intolerable." The Indians 
who rowed the boat, exhausted by heat and toil, 
would throw themselves into the vvater to cool 
their glowing bodies, and return refreshed to their 
labour at the oar. But the most painful sen- 
sation which the whole party experienced, was 
from tormenting thirst, when their water being 
siearly expended, they were forced to alleviate 
their sufferings by sparing moulhfuls only. " One 
of the Indians sank and died, under the accumu- 
lated sufferings of labour, heat, and parching thirst. 
Others lay panting and gasping in the bottom of 
the canoes. Their companions, troubled in spirit 
and exhausted in strength, feebly continued their 
toils. One after another gave out, and it seemed 
impossible that they should live to reach His- 
paniola 

While they were in this state, a little island 
called Navasa, was perceived by Diego Mendez. 
It was discovered by the light of the moon, and 
the next morning at day break, the crews were 
enabled to land, and " springing on shore they re- 
turned thanks to God for such signal deliverance. 



^238 PROCRASTINATION OP OVANBO. 

The island was a mere mass of rocks. There was 
neither tree, nor shrub, nor herbage, nor stream, 
nor fountain." Cavities in the rocks had secreted 
rain water, and of this the Indians drank so immo- 
derately that several of them died upon the spot. 
Arrived at Cape Tiburon, the voyagers expe- 
rienced kindness fiom the natives. Fiesco would 
have returned to the ships to inform Columbus 
that his messenger had arrived, but the Spaniards 
and Indians absolutely refused to make the passage 
in a canoe, on account of their late sufferings. 

Mendez left his companions at Cape Tiburon, 
and set out in Ins canoe With six Indians for St. 
Domingo. Having proceeded along coast, part 
of the way, he heard that Ovando was in the inte- 
rior, in the province of Xaragua. On learning 
this fact, this indefatigable man left the canoe, and 
travelled on foot one hundred and fifty miles into 
the country. He found the governor engaged in 
wars with the natives ; but Mendez was received 
with kindnessj^ and Ovando promised to attend to 
his suit when he should have leisure. Mendez 
waited seven months in Xaragua for the conve- 
nience of the governor, who was more concerned 
to make the lives of the poor Indians, bitter v/ith 
hard bondage, than to rescue his unfortunate 
countrymen. At length Ovando gave Mendez 
permission to go to St. Domingo, and wait the ar- 
rival of certain vessels which were expected. 
Two of these were promised for the use of 
Columbus. 

During this season the rebels under Porras, 
formed a plan to attack the ships, take the admi- 
ral prisoner, and plunder the stores. ColumbuR 



MUTINEERS DEFEATED. 237 

had previously sent messengers to them with of- 
fers of forgiveness, if they would return to their 
duty : when he learned their base project, he em- 
powered his brother,the adelantado, lo go on shore, 
and to discuss with Forras the iniquity of their 
purposes, — generously intending, if possible, to re- 
form and reconcile those abandoned men. The 
roving life which the conspirators had lately led, 
made them, more than ever, averse to all subordi- 
nation. 

The adelantado. went to meet the rebels at the 
head of fifty men well armed. Porras and his 
men showed no regard to the amicable intentions 
of Don Bartho^pmew, but disposing themselves in 
battle array, commenced an attack upon him. The 
adelantado was prepared, and after a short con- 
flict, Francisco de Porras was- taken, and five of 
the rebels killed. The adelantado gained a com- 
plete victory. He then returned in triumph to the > 
ships where his brother received him in the most 
affectionate manner. He brought Porras, and 
several of his followers prisoners. On the next 
day the rebels sent a petition to the admiral en- 
treating pardon, and promising submission. The 
admiral with his wonted magnanimity, granted 
their prayer on the condition that their leader 
Francisco de Potras should rernaii) a prisoner. 

After a long year of confinement at the harbour 
of San Gloria, (as Columbus called it) two vessels 
came to the relief of the admiral and his men. 
When Mendez had seen these vessels depart from 
St. Domingo, he proceeded to Spain as he had 
been ordered. " On the 28th of June Colum- 
bus took a joyful leave of the wreck in which he 



238 COLUMBUS AT ST. DOMINGO. 

had been so long immured, and all the Spaniarc, 
embarked, friend and foe, on board of the vessels 
which made sail for St. Domingo." Adverse 
winds and currents prolonged the passage, but on 
the 13th of August it was accomplished, and Co- 
lumbus once more landed in St. Domingo. 

He had left that city a prisoner and in chains, 
he returned thither without disgrace, but years, 
and sorrows had broken his constitution. Still he 
possessed the same exalted soul which he had 
manifested in the days of his power ; and the sen- 
timent of his merits and his wrongs, touched every 
feeling heart. The governor, and all the principal 
inhabitants came out to meet him, and received 
him with demonstrations of respect. He was 
lodged at the house of Ovando, and treated there 
as became a man of high rank. Notwithstanding 
this spurious courtesy, the character of Ovando 
was detestable to Columbus. 

I have not given you any details of the adminis- 
tration of Ovando. He seems to have been a 
man wholly destitute of humanity, and to have 
served the king of S\mn with that short sighted ra- 
pacity which dwells more upon the present than 
the future, and aims at the immediate gratifications 
of selfishness, rather than the ultimate benefit of 
society. This is sometimes called ivorldly wis- 
dom; but such vvisdom is foolishness,compared with 
the generous purposes, the disinterested labours, 
and the untired long-sulTering exhibited by Co- 
lumbus. The oppression and massacres of the 
Indians, which Ovando ordered and encouraged, 
need not be related to you. Mr. Irving, in a 



FATE OP ANACAONA. 239 

single passage has recorded the consequences of 
them : 

" The sojourn of Cohimbus at St. Domingo was 
but little calculated to yield him satisfaction. He 
was grieved at the desolation of the island by the 
oppressive treatment of the natives, and the horri- 
ble massacres which liad been perpetrated by 
Ovando and his agents. Columbus had fondly 
hoped, at one time, to have rendered the natives 
civilized, industrious, and tributary subjects to the 
crown, and to have derived from their well-regu- 
lated labour a great and steady revenue. How 
different had been the event. The five great 
tribes which had peoi)led the mountains and the 
valleys at the time of the discovery, and had ren- 
dered, by their minoled towns and villages, and 
tracts of cultivation, the rich levels of the vegas 
so many ' painted gardens ' had almost all passed 
away ; and the native [)rinces had perished chiefly 
by violent or ignominious deaths." 

The fate of Anacaona must interest you. That 
princess, on the death of her brother Behechio, 
succeeded to the government. Her former par- 
tiality to the Spaniards, v/as at length c' nged 
to detestation, by the injuries inflicted upon her 
countrymen ; which were constantly augmenting. 
Still she refrained from open hostdity. The In- 
dians of Xaragua submitted to the exactions of 
the Spaniards as patiently as they could, but quar- 
rels would arise between th^m and their oppres- 
sors. Complaints were sent to Ovando of their 
refractoriness, and he went into their province 
H-ith three hundred foot soldiers, and seventy 



240 COLUMBUS EMBAKKS FOR SPAI^. 

horsemen. He pretended that he was going upon 
a friendly visit to Anacaona. 

Anacaona, hearing of the intended visit, made 
preparrilioiis for it, assembling her caciques and 
principal subjects. When Ovando and his troop 
appeared, she treated them as she had formerly 
treated the adelantado. For several days the In- 
dians entertained the Spaniards with their national 
games, and were in their turn to be diverted by 
certain chivalrous exercises which the Spaniards 
'had learned from the Moors. in Granada. The 
armed soldiers of Ovando were instructed, when 
the Indians should be assembler! for this festivity, 
to seize Anacaona and the chiefs, upon the pre- 
tence that x\nacuona had in reality assembled her 
subjects with a muiinous intention. The soldiers 
obeyed these instructions, and fell upon the unsus- 
pecting natives. Anacaona, was led away a pri- 
soner, and the chiefs were driven into a large 
house, — the house was soon set on fire, and the 
caciques perished miserably in the flames. Ana- 
caona was carried in chains to St. Domingo. Af- 
ter a mock trial, being pronounced guilty, " she 
was ignominiously hanged in the presence of the 
people whom she had so long, and so signally 
befriended." 

On the 1 2th of September, Columbus set sail 
for Spain On the seventh of November 1604 he 
arrived in the harbour of San Lucas. From thence 
he was conveyed in a very ill state of health to 
Seville. The privileges which h-id been granted 
by the crown to Columbus might have made him 
rich, but he was too much employed in the public 
service to pay proper attention to his concerns ; 



HIS DISINTERESTEDNESS. 241 

and persons entrusted with them, were not careful 
of his interests. " 1 receive nothing of the reve- 
nue due to me,'' said he in a letter to his son 
Diego. " Little have I profited by twenty years 
of service with such toils and perils, since at pre- 
sent I do not own a roof in Spain. If I desire to 
eat or sleep, I have no resort but an inn, and for 
the most times have not wherewithal to pay my 
bill." 

In his adversity, he was yet more solicitous for 
the payment of his men than himself: he wrote 
repeatedly to the sovereigns in their behalf. 
" They are poor,'' said he, " and it is now nearly 
three years since they left their homes. They 
have endured infinite toils and perils, and they 
bring invaluable tidings, for which their majesties 
ought to give thanks to God, and rejoice." — How 
kind he was to the evil, and the unthankful! — 
These, for whom he entreated justice and favour, 
were, some of them, the very men who had re- 
belled against hini, and insulted his authority. 

From Seville, Columbus wrote to the king a 
just representation of the misgovernment of Ovan- 
do ; and he asked now to be restored to his pro- 
per dignity of viceroy in the countries which he 
had discovered. He was too ill to appear at 
court, and his enemy, Porras, who had been set 
at liberty in St. Domingo by Ovando, and who 
was now in Spain and at large, might circulate 
false reports to the injury of his character. To a 
man of the honourable spirit of Columbus, this 
situation was exquisitely painful. His son, Diego, 
and Diego Mendez, were at court, and he relied 
upon their services. " I trust," said he, " that 
21 



242 DEATH OF ISABELLA. 

the truth and diligence of Diego Mendez will have 
as much avail as the lies of Porras." His honest 
declaration of his faithfulness and zeal, is very af- 
fecting. " I have served their majesties, said he, 
with as much zeal and diligence, as if it had been, 
to gain paradise ; and, if I have failed in any 
thing, it has been because my knowledge and my 
powers went no farther." 

Columbus was about to sustain a heavy afflic- 
tion : it was the death of the admirable queen, 
Isabella. " She was," says Mr. Irving, " one of the 
purest spirits that ever ruled over the destinies of 
a nation." But, exalted as Ave re her character 
and her station, many afflictions disturbed her re- 
pose, so that sorrow, as well as disease, shortened 
her days. 

" After four months of illness, she died on the 
26th of November, 1504, at Medino del Campo, 
in the fifty-fourth year of her age ; but long before 
her eyes closed upon the world, her heart had 
closed on all its pomps and vanities. < Let my 
body,' said she, in her will, ' be interred in the 
monastery of San Francisco, which is in the Al- 
hambra of the city of Granada, in a low sepulchre? 
without any monument except a plain stone upon 
the earth, with the inscription cut in it. But I 
desire and command, that if the king, my lord, 
should choose a sepulchre in any church or mo- 
nastery, in any other part or place of these my 
kingdoms, that my body shall be transported thi- 
ther, and buried beside the body of his highness ; 
so that the union we have enjoyed while livings 
and which, throui^h the mercv of God, we hor^c 



SONS OF coLuiyiBUS. 243 

our souls will experience in heaven, may be re- 
presented by our bodies in the earth." 

This passage only expresses the humility of 
Isabella, and her sincere attachment to her hus- 
band. Besides the value and beauty of her do- 
mestic character ; her zeal to promote the disse- 
mination of all the rehgion she knew ; her indig- 
nation at the wrongs inflicted upon her Indian 
subjects ; her friendship for Columbus^ and the ac- 
tive interest she took in his undertakings, are 
traits of exalted understanding and goodness, and 
make her worthy of admiration, praise, and imita- 
tion to all posterity. 

During the winter of 1505, and the ensuing 
spring, Columbus remained ill at Seville. Ferdi- 
nand, in this time, made no acknowledgment of 
his distinguished services, nor did he express any 
intention to reinstate him in his dignities. The 
adelantado, m this season of affliction, did not for- 
sake his brother ; he repaired to court, to inter- 
cede in his behalf, taking with him Fernando Co- 
lumbus, then seventeen years of age. 

" The latter, the aflectionate father repeatedly 
represents to his son Diego, as a man in under- 
standing and conduct, though but a stripling in 
years ; and inculcates the strongest fraternal at- 
tachment, alluding to his own brethren with one 
of those beautifully artless and affecting touches, 
which speaks the kindness of his heart. ' To thy 
brother, conduct thyself as the elder brother 
should unto the younger ; thou hast no other, and 
I praise God that this is such a one as thou art in 
nped of. * '^ ^- Ten brothers would not be too 



244 DEATH OF COLUMBUS. 

many for thee. Never have I found a better 
friend, to right or left, than my brothers, '" 

' It was not until the month of May, that the ad- 
miral was able, in company with his brother the 
adelantado, to accomplish his journey to court, 
which was at that time, held at Segovia. He, 
who but a ?ew years before, had entered the city 
of Barcelona in triumph, attended by the nobility 
and chivalry of Spain, and hailed with rapture by 
the multitude, now arrived within the gates of Se- 
govia, a way-worn, melancholy, and neglected 
man ; oppressed more by his griefs, than even by 
his years and infirmities. When he presented 
himself at court, he met with none of that distin- 
guished attention, that cordial kindness, that che- 
rishing sympathy, which his unparalleled services, 
and his recent sufferings had merited." 

The king, however, heard the suit of Columbus 
with complacency, but he did not acknowledge 
him as the head of government, and his own re- 
presentative in the new world. Columbus, feeling 
his own rapid decline, and weary of attendance 
upon a hardhearted prince, negligent of his ex- 
traordinary claims, ceased to ask any thing for 
himself, and only entreated that the privileges and 
honours of which he had been wrongfully deprived, 
might be bestowed upon his son Diego. 

Feeling death approaching he wrote a last tes- 
tament, making his son Diego his chief heir, and 
leaving some of his property to charitable uses. — 
Among those present on this melancholy occasion, 
was Bartolomeo Fiesco, who had accompanied 
Diego Mendez on his perilous voyage from Ja- 
maica to Hispaniola. 



HIS MdXUMEKT. 24r> 

^' Having thus scrupulously attended to all the 
claims of affection, loyalty, and justice upon earth, 
Columbus turned his thoughts to heaven ; and, 
having received the holy sacraments, and perform- 
ed all the pious offices of a devout Christian, he 
expired with great resignation on the day of As- 
cension, the 20th of May, 1506, being about se- 
venty years of age. His last words were, <' In 
vianus tuas Domine commendo spii'itum meum :" 
Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit!" 

His body was first interred at Valladolid. In 
1513, it was removed to Seville. Diego Colum- 
bus, the son of the admiral, died in Spain, 1526. 
His remains were interred with his father's, at 
Seville. In the year 1536, both bodies were con- 
veyed to Hispaniola, and interred in the principal 
chapel of the cathedral of the city of St. Do- 
mingo. They were once more disinterred ; and, 
at present, rest in Havana, in the island of Cuba. 
Ferdinand ordered a monument in honour of Co- 
lumbus, to be erected with this inscription : 

rOR CASTILLA Y POR LEON 
NUEVO MUNDO HALLO COLON. 

" For Castile and Leon, Columbus found a new 
world." 



I have now brought you, my young readers, to 
tiie melancholy termination of one of the most 
glorious lives ever spent by man upon earth if its 
consequences to mankind be considered. It is 
sad to read of so great afflictions heaped upon the 



« 46 HIS CIIAHACTER. 

Iiead of such eminent merit ; but there is a pro- 
mise for the life which is to come, that all virtue 
shall have its reward. When we regret, that the 
contemporaries of Columbus were not worthy to 
estimate his worth, we must remember, that his 
sense of God'p justice and mercy, was light from 
heaven ; and that the sublime trust which he felt 
in tlie divine goodness, was an intimation that the 
happiness he never knew here, was reserved for 
him hereafter. 

His character, exalted as it was, is easily com- 
prehended, and to a certain degree, easy of imita- 
tion. He cultivated his understanding diligently ; 
he devoted himself to the service of God sincerely, 
and he applied his talents to the benefit of mankind 
faithfully. He was distinguished by faith and piety, 
by perseverance and fortitude, by exemplary pa- 
tience and placability, by disinterestedness and the 
sense of justice, by a true love of nature, by a 
great genius, and a benevolent heart, and by 
knowledge as exact and extensive as the age in 
which he lived would permit. 

He never comprehended the magnitude of his 
discoveries. To use the beautiful language of 
Mr. living, " What visions of glory would have 
broke upon his mind, could he have known that 
he had indeed discovered a new continent, equal to 
the whole of the old world in magnitude, and se- 
parated by two vast oceans from all of the earth 
hitherto known by civilized men ; and how would 
his magnanimous spirit have been consoled, amidst 
the chills of age.and cares of penury, the neglect 
of a fickle public, and the injustice of an ungrate- 
ful king, could he have anticipated the splendid 



Ills SUCCESSOR. 247 

empires which were to spread over the beautiful 
world he had discovered, and the nations, and 
tongues, and languages, which were to fill its lands 
with his renown, and to revere and bless his name 
to the latest posterity !" 

On the death of Columbus his son Diego suc- 
ceeded to his rights as governor and viceroy of 
the new world ; and he peisevered for some years 
to demand thc^se honours fiom the king of Spain. 
Ferdinand was not more just to the son than he 
had been to the flither. In 1508 Don Diego Co- 
lumbus commenced a suit against the king, claim- 
ing his performance of certain promises made to 
his father, which were given to him under the royal 
seal, in a commission from the king and queen of 
Spain. Diego Columbus married Donna Maria 
de Toledo, a niece of the Duke of Alva, one of the 
king's favourites, and afterward much distinguished 
in the history of Europe. The connexion of Don 
Diego wiih this powerful nobleman, and with other 
of the grandees of Spain, more than the merits of 
the claim, determmed Ferdinand to recal Ovando 
from his government, and to bestow it upon Diego 
Columbus. 

Don Diego, with his family, his two uncles, and 
his brother Fernando embarked for St. Domingo 
June 9th 1 J09. . They were accompanied by a 
numerous train of Spanish cavaliers, and ladies of 
honourable families and polished manners. Though 
Ferdinand did not grant Don Diego the title of 
viceroy it was accorded to him by the respect of 
those who honoured the man and his station. 
Donna Maria was universally addressed as the 
vice queen. Don Bartholomew retained the title 



248 DEATH OF DIEGO COLUMBUS. 

of adelantado. He was not, after the death of 
his brother, employed by the king in prosecuting 
farther discoveries, but was appointed t® the com- 
mand of a small island in the West Indies. Don 
Bartholomew Columbus died at St. Domingo in 
1615. 

The administration of Don Diego was not 
happy being disturbed by altercations among the 
colonists, and complaints against him from them 
to the king of Spain. Ferdinand died January, 
1516, and was succeeded by his grandson the 
Prince Charles, son of the princess Juana and 
Philip of Austria, and afterward the Emperor 
Charles V. In 1 523, Don Diego, was recalled to 
Spain, to answer to certain charges which were 
brought against him. He obeyed immediately, 
. and was able to establish his innocence. But not 
having received a portion of the profits from the 
colonies, wdiich had been allotted to him, he ap- 
pealed to the king, for the emoluments wliich had 
been withheld from him. 

This affair was so neglected and deferred that 
Don Diego died in the pursuit. " For two years 
he follow^ed the court from city to city, during its 
migrations from Victoria to Burgos, Valladolid, 
Madrid, and Toledo." After a prolonged illness 
he expired at the village of Montalvan, not far from 
Seville, February 23d, 1526, being littie more 
than fifty years of age. 

During the twenty years that had elapsed from 
the death of Don Christopher Columbus to that of 
his son, considerable changes occurred in the 
West Indies. The mines fell into comparative 
neglect, and the true sources of wealth, the per- 



l^EKNANDO COLUMBUS. 249 

petual reproductions of the soil, began to be 
sought after. Sugar cane was cultivated, and su- 
gar manufactured, and exported to Europe. " It 
became a by-word in Spain, that tlie magnificent 
palaces erected by Charles V. at Madrid and To- 
ledo were built of the sugar of Hispaniola." 
Porto Rico Jamaica, and Cuba were brought into 
subjection to Spain, and partially settled. The 
negroes in the West Indies soon became numerous, 
and were treated with great cruelty. The first 
revolt of these unfortunate people broke out in 
1522 at Hispaniola. 

After the death of Don Diego, Donna Maria 
claimed the viceroy alty for her eldest son, Don 
Luis. That claim was not admitted, and the 
young man gave it up, taking instead, the titles of 
duke of Veragua, and marquis of Jamaica, and a 
pension of one thousand doubloons of gold. lu 
1608 the male fine of Columbus was declared to 
be extinct, and a grandson of Isabella, third 
daughter of Don Diego Columbus succeeded to 
the titles of duke of Veragua &c. The present 
duke of Veragua is the representative of the no- 
blest ancestor nobility can boast. 

Fernando Cohimbus, the younger son of the 
admiral, in 1 502, accompanied his father on his 
fourth voyage After the death of his father, Fer- 
nando made two voyages to the new world, and 
accompanied the Emperor Charles V. to Italy, 
Flanders, and Germany. These opportunities 
were not lost upon him, and he acquired much in- 
formation in geography, navigation, and natural 
history. Being fond of books, he collected a li- 
brary of twenty thousand volumes. He died at 



250 A3IERIG0 VESPUCCI. 

Seville July, 1 539, at the age of fifty years. He 
left no children. He composed some literary 
works, the most important of which is a history of 
the admiral, his father. Mr. Irving regrets that 
this history only embraces that portion of the ad- 
miral's life, subsequent to his fifty sixth year. 



AMERIGO VESPUCCI. 

The individual, whose name will be had in 
everlasting remembrance, on account of the vast 
continent to which it is attached, was Amerigo 
Vespucci. He was born at Florence, March 9th, 
1461, of a noble family. Vespucci, at one time, 
was an enterprising and wealthy merchant, but 
disasters in business, reduced his fortune, so that 
he left Florence, and went to reside at Seville. 
He was in that city in 1496. 

When the Spanish sovereigns sent out ships to 
the newly discovered countries, the ships were 
procured and fitted out by agents^ employed and 
paid by their majesties. Amerigo Vespucci, du- 
ring his residence at Seville, was employed to 
furnish such vessels ; and, when Columbus was 
in Spain, Vespucci became acquainted with him. 
They conversed together concerning the new 
countries, and Vespucci felt a desire to visit them. 

In 1499, when Ojeda got permission from Fon- 
seca to make discoveries, Amerigo Vespucci en- 
gaged with him, and sailed for Paria, which Co- 
lumbus had discovered the preceding year, (1498,) 
in one of the four vessels commanded by Ojeda. 
This squadron explored the coast of that country, 



AMERIGO VESPUCCI, 231 

how called the republic of Colombia ; and, on the 
18th of June, 1500, arrived in Spain with intelli- 
gence of the wealth and beauty of the regions 
they had visited. 

In 1501, Vespucci left Spain, and engaged in 
the service of Emanuel, king of Portugal, and 
made a voyage from Lisbon to Brazil. Vincente 
Yafiez Pinzon, in the service of Spain, and Pedro 
Alvarez Cabral, in that of Portugal, separately 
discovered Brazil in 1 500. Both these navigators, 
unknown to each other, or to Vespucci, took pos- 
session of Brazil, in the name of their respective 
sovereigns. Vespucci also claimed Brazil for his 
master, the king of Portugal, and it was allotted 
to him, because it extended east of the boundary 
line, by which Portugal and Spain had agreed to 
divide their discoveries. 

The name of Amerigo Vespucci, was first given 
to this region of Southern America, and after- 
ward, as discoveries were extended, the name 
was also extended, until now, when it compre- 
hends the immense continent which stretches from 
Cape Horn to the Arctic Ocean. Vespucci made 
several voyages to America, but it does not ap- 
pear that the king of Portugal rewarded him li- 
berally for his services. It is sometimes intimated, 
that Vespucci gave his name to the western conti- 
nent by artfully representing himself as its first 
discoverer, but that is not true. The extraordi- 
nary man who first crossed the western ocean, 
and planted his foot on the island of St. Salvador, 
first conquered the dangers, doubts, and fears of 
an unknown sea ; first ascertained its limits, and 
first gave the knowledge of a western continent 



252 DEATH OF VESPUCCI. 

to the inhabitants of another hemisphere ; and he 
enjoys the honour which belongs exclusively to 
him. 

Fernando Columbus, who wrote the history of 
his father's eventful life, never speaks of Vespucci, 
as of one who had defrauded him of his fame, by 
supplanting him in the honour due to the first dis- 
coverer of the western continent The great dis- 
tinction of giving a name to almost half the globe, 
was accidentally bestowed upon Amerigo Ves- 
pucci, not invidiously assumed by him. A letter 
of Columbus, dat^d February 8th, 1506, and ad- 
dressed to his son Diego at court, was conveyed 
to the latter by Vespucci. Of him, Columbus 
says in the letter : — " Fortune has been adverse 
to him as to many others ; he goes for my ac- 
count, and with much desire to do something that 
may result to my advantage." This sufficiently 
expresses the friendship which subsisted between 
these eminent men. No jealousy on the part of 
Columbus, and no hypocritical design on that of 
A''espucci, existed. The love of science ; the de- 
sire of extending the boundaries of human know 
ledge and the empire of civilized Europe over 
an uncultivated and barbarous world, were the 
motives of their enterprises ; and a sufficient 
ground for mutual esteem, and mutual kindness. 

After the death of Columbus, Vespucci received 
from the king of Spain, the appointment of prin- 
cipal pilot, and a suitable salary. His office was 
to instruct shipmasters, and others engaged in 
expeditions to the western w^orld, how to manage; 
their concerns with safety and success. He died 
at Seville, Mav 22d, 1512. 



1500KS FOR YOUTH, 

PUBLISHED BY WILLIAM BURGESS. 



Anna Ross ; a story for children, by the author 
of " Father Clement," &c. embellished with four 
coloured copperplate engravings. — Third Ameri- 
can Edition. 

*' We gave the above volume a perusal, and must ex- 
press the pleasure we felt in running over the pages of 
this very interestiug anU instructive little work. It is a 
valuable addition to Sabbath Schools and juvenile libra- 
ries, and we would recommend it to all who have the care 
and education of children." — Religious Messenger. 

THE HISTORY OF THE FAIRCHILD 
FAMILY, or the Child's Manual ; being a col- 
lection of stories calculated to show the impor- 
tance and effects of a religious education. By 
Mrs. Sherwood, author of the " Lady of the Ma- 
nor," &c., &c. First American edition, in 2 
vols. 18mo. with an engraving. 

THE GEOGRAPHICAL PRESENT; be- 
ing descriptions of the principal countries of the 
World. By M. A. Venning With representa- 
tions of the various inhabitants in their respective 
costumes, beautifully coloured. First American, 
from the Third London Edition, with corrections 
und additions. 

Pierre and his Family ; or, A Story of tlie 
Waldenses, with a frontispiece.— Third American 
Edition. 

22 



'C BOOKS FOR lOLTii. 

'' We are happy to meet again with tlie author ol the 
beautiful story of ' Lily Douglas,' in the equally instruc- 
tive and useful narrative of ' Pierre and his Family.' 
We have already expressed our opinion of the talents of 
the author of this work, and the present performance bears 
fMnple testimony to the justice of that opinion. It is un- 
necessary for us to say much in commendation of her wri- 
tings ; they possess intrinsic merit sutficient to secure for 
them a lasting reputation." — JVew Evangelical Magazine. 

Lily Douglas ; a simple story, humbly intended 
as a premium and pattern for Sabbath Schools, by 
the author of " Pierre and his Family," with 
frontispiece. — Second American Edition. 

The Decision ; or Religion must be all or is 
nothing — by the author of *' Father Clement."-— 
Sixth American Edition. 

" The story itself is a very short and simple one, but its 
characters are so true to nature, that we have no doubt 
it has been drawn from what has occurred in real life. 
Our regret in laying down this little work, was, that it is 
too short. As it is, we cherish the fondest expectations 
that the lessons which it is meant to teach, wdl reach the 
hearts of many hitherto strangers to thetruth,and enable 
them like Gertrude, to choose that better part which shall 
never be taken from them." — Christian Herald. 

Providential Care ; a tale founded on facts, 
by Miss vSandham, author of the " Twin Sisters," 
" School Fellows" &c. with a frontispiece. — First 
American Edition. 

*' Parents cannot put into the hands of their children a 
more interesting book, nor one which is better calculated 
to give a virtuous bias to their minds, than this little pro- 
duction of Miss Sandham. The whole story exempliiies 
the truth, that virtue has its reward, and that the safest 
reliance is on the protection of a kind providence"— 
Editor of the JYeio York Farmer. 



BOOKS FOR YOUTH. O. 

The Parent's Assistant ; or, stories for chil- 
dren, by Maria Edgeworth ; 2 vols. 18mo. with 
numerous engravings on w^ood. Contents — The 
White Pigeon, Lazy Lawrence, Tarlton, The 
Birth Day Present, Simple Susan, The Basket 
Woman, Forgive and Forget, Eton Montem, The 
Mimic, Waste Not Want Not, The False Key, 
The Orphans, Barring Out, Old Poz, and the Lit- 
tle Merchants. 

Little Plays for Children ; The Grinding 
Organ, Dumb Andy, and The Dame School Holi- 
day ; being a continuation of I'he Parent's Assis- 
tant, by Maria Edgeworth, embellished with three 
copperplate engravings. 

" Many excellencies are combined in this little work of 
Miss Edgeworth's ; the plays are remarkably lively and 
instructive. They are so true to nature, that the youthful 
reader will imagine himself hearing; all the varied tones 
of the different speakers, and seeing all their comic ac- 
tions ; thus the feelings which the writer intended to in- 
fuse into his bosom will be excited, and the moral tenden- 
cy of the plays secured." — Editor of the New York Far- 
mer. 

In School and out of School, or the History 

of William and John, an Interesting Tale by One 
who knows both.^ — First American Edition, with 
two copperplate engravings. 

This work is written in a plain and easy style, replete 
with interest, and every way calculated to impress upon 
the minds of youth and instil therein the most important 
principles of morality and religion. In short, it is one of 
the most amusing and instructive books of its kind- 



4 BOOKS FOR YOUTH. 

1 

Fireside Stories, or Recollections ot' JNIj' ' 
School Fellows, by the author of " The Picture 
Gallery," embellished with twelve beautiful cop- 
perplate engravings. 

Tales of a Grandfather ; being stories ta- 
ken from the History of Scotland, by Sir Walter 
Scott, author of ' Waverly" &c. — First and Se- 
cond series in four volumes, 18mo. with 8 beau- 
tiful copperplate engravings. 

The Eskdale Herd-Boy, a Scottish Tale, foi 
the instruction and amusement of young persons. 
By Mrs. Blackford. — First American Edition, 
with a frontispiece. 

" A very superior work, and we have read it ourselves 
with much interest.''' — London Magazine. 

" A work calculated to conduct to wisdom through 
pleasantness." — Literary Gazette. 

The Scottish Obphans ; a Moral Tale, found- 
ed on an historical fact ; and calculated to improve 
the minds of young people. By Mrs. Blackfo-J. 
Second American Edition. 

" Wisdom to him that converseth with the wise." 

Arthur Monteith; A 31oral Tale, being a 
continuation of the "Scottish Orphans." By Mrs. 
Blackford. — Second American Edition. 

The Life of Moses ; illustrated by eiglit cop- 
perplate engravings. — First American Edition. 



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